Cruise Control Driving Tip

[Johnny Dangerously]

We don't tow much of anything with my wife's truck, but when we moved from CA to MD in 1999, we did tow a U-Haul trailer to carry the stuff the moving company wouldn't. This was my first time towing anything over a distance of 5 miles. I had the cruise control on for part of the trip until we were in TX the night after an ice storm. After driving for about an hour @45 mph (cruise on) I decide to bump it up to 50 mph using the acceleration feature on the cruise. The tranny down shifted & 15 seconds later our ground loop was complete & we were stopped on the shoulder of westbound I10; we started from the slow lane of the eastbound I10. Needless to say, it was a tough lesson, but luckily no one was injured & there was a small dent behind the left rear wheel where the trailer hit us when it jack knifed.

I got an e-mail article that says not to use the while it raining in order to reduce the chance of spinning out due to hydroplaning.

A 36 year old female had an accident several weeks ago and Totaled her car.
A resident of Kilgore, Texas she was traveling between Gladewater & Kilgore.
It was raining, though not excessively, when her car suddenly began to
hydro-plane and literally flew through the air. She was not seriously
injured but very stunned at the sudden occurrence!

When she explained to the highway patrolman what had happened he told
her something that every driver should know - NEVER DRIVE IN THE RAIN
WITH YOUR CRUISE CONTROL ON. She thought she was being cautious by
setting the cruise control and maintaining a safe consistent speed in
the rain.


But the highway patrolman told her that if the cruise control is on
when your car begins to hydro-plane and your tires lose contact with
the pavement, your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed
making you take off like an airplane. She told the patrolman that was
exactly what had occurred.

The patrolman said this warning should be listed, on the driver's seat
sun-visor - NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR
ICY, along with the air bag warning. We tell our teenagers to set the
cruise control and drive a safe speed - but we don't tell them to use
the cruise control only when the pavement is dry.

The only person the accident victim found, who knew this (besides the
patrolman), was a man who had a similar accident, totaled his car and
sustained severe injuries

Apparently, some vehicles will not allow you to set the cruise control when the windshield wipers are on.


`

[TOMMY GUN]

I don't drive in the rain.








A question about you being in cruise control while towing, and the tranny downshifting.

Was it downshifting from Overdrive?

You're not supposed to be in overdrive while towing.


.

[Carnut]

Originally Posted by TOMMY GUN

I don't drive in the rain.








A question about you being in cruise control while towing, and the tranny downshifting.

Was it downshifting from Overdrive?

You're not supposed to be in overdrive while towing.


.

A good tip for sure. I guess a lot people don't think about it.

[TOMMY GUN]

I didn't know that either til I needed a new tranny in my F150 at about 20,000 miles. Good thing for warranties.



.

[Johnny Dangerously]

Originally Posted by TOMMY GUN

I don't drive in the rain.








A question about you being in cruise control while towing, and the tranny downshifting.

Was it downshifting from Overdrive?

You're not supposed to be in overdrive while towing.


.

Maybe, but I'm not sure if that vehicle had OD. It was a 98 GMC Suburban with a 4 speed. I know better now though. I'll get someone else to tow my stuff.


`

[HSURB]

Originally Posted by Johnny Dangerously

We don't tow much of anything with my wife's truck, but when we moved from CA to MD in 1999, we did tow a U-Haul trailer to carry the stuff the moving company wouldn't. This was my first time towing anything over a distance of 5 miles. I had the cruise control on for part of the trip until we were in TX the night after an ice storm. After driving for about an hour @45 mph (cruise on) I decide to bump it up to 50 mph using the acceleration feature on the cruise. The tranny down shifted & 15 seconds later our ground loop was complete & we were stopped on the shoulder of westbound I10; we started from the slow lane of the eastbound I10. Needless to say, it was a tough lesson, but luckily no one was injured & there was a small dent behind the left rear wheel where the trailer hit us when it jack knifed.

I got an e-mail article that says not to use the while it raining in order to reduce the chance of spinning out due to hydroplaning.

A 36 year old female had an accident several weeks ago and Totaled her car.
A resident of Kilgore, Texas she was traveling between Gladewater & Kilgore.
It was raining, though not excessively, when her car suddenly began to
hydro-plane and literally flew through the air. She was not seriously
injured but very stunned at the sudden occurrence!

When she explained to the highway patrolman what had happened he told
her something that every driver should know - NEVER DRIVE IN THE RAIN
WITH YOUR CRUISE CONTROL ON. She thought she was being cautious by
setting the cruise control and maintaining a safe consistent speed in
the rain.


But the highway patrolman told her that if the cruise control is on
when your car begins to hydro-plane and your tires lose contact with
the pavement, your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed
making you take off like an airplane. She told the patrolman that was
exactly what had occurred.

The patrolman said this warning should be listed, on the driver's seat
sun-visor - NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR
ICY, along with the air bag warning. We tell our teenagers to set the
cruise control and drive a safe speed - but we don't tell them to use
the cruise control only when the pavement is dry.

The only person the accident victim found, who knew this (besides the
patrolman), was a man who had a similar accident, totaled his car and
sustained severe injuries

Apparently, some vehicles will not allow you to set the cruise control when the windshield wipers are on.


`

Really good info JD.

HSURB®

[gr8snkbite]

good info....makes sense....

[Dad's72Mach]

Wow, makes perfect sense when your informed about it but just not something I've ever thought of. Thanks JD.

[Johnny Dangerously]

Originally Posted by Dad's72Mach

Wow, makes perfect sense when your informed about it but just not something I've ever thought of. Thanks JD.

`

[Alloy Dave]

nothin' like a good PSA.

[Co Pilot]

Excellent info to pass along. Good find.

We have cc on everything we own and I never use it. Most of my driving is city driving where it's useless.

[Shlbylvr]

Originally Posted by Co Pilot

Excellent info to pass along. Good find.

We have cc on everything we own and I never use it. Most of my driving is city driving where it's useless.

My SUV doesn't even have CC.. So its no big deal for me. When I rent a vehicle that has CC I never use it.

[BAD SNAKE]

I had a similar experience with my wifes Pathfinder.
I was driving on a semi icy highway with the CC on and I had my legs crossed, yea I know. Anyway we came to an incline in the road and the Pathfinder downshifted and we lost traction and we started to spin sideways. As I was trying to uncross my legs I turned into the slide and the CC turned off by it's self. I don't know if this happens on all vehicles but it's a nice safety feature.

[HSURB]

This is a great thread JD. I'm glad I brought it back up.

HSURB®