Cruise Control?
Discussion
What's the consensus on cruise control on this forum? I've always thought it rather dangerous myself, and I'd be interested to hear everyone else's viewpoints.
Maybe it's pyschological, but I've felt distinctly disconnected from the car whenever I've tried it. I've given up now, so if I have a hire car that's got it it's the one gadget I never touch.
Maybe it's pyschological, but I've felt distinctly disconnected from the car whenever I've tried it. I've given up now, so if I have a hire car that's got it it's the one gadget I never touch.
RobM77 said:
What's the consensus on cruise control on this forum? I've always thought it rather dangerous myself, and I'd be interested to hear everyone else's viewpoints.
Maybe it's pyschological, but I've felt distinctly disconnected from the car whenever I've tried it. I've given up now, so if I have a hire car that's got it it's the one gadget I never touch.
Can be useful in roadworks with average speed cameras. I think the problem for some people is that they switch off mentally when they use it. Maybe it's pyschological, but I've felt distinctly disconnected from the car whenever I've tried it. I've given up now, so if I have a hire car that's got it it's the one gadget I never touch.
It isn't unsafe assuming you maintain your normal standards of concentration. Of course there are times it doesn't work- ie in heavy traffic moving at variable speeds.
Some people obviously don't agree- the Belgians for one, it's illegal to use there.
It's an interesting one. I know I can't be the same as everyone, because loads of others use it without a problem, but when I switch it on it feels totally strange, like I've lost control of the speed (which I have!). And what do you do with your right foot whilst it's on? I find that if I put it down on the floor I worry it'll take me longer to get to the brake. The other thing is without the fine throttle control to maintain one's speed on the motorway, there's nothing else to do and I'd worry about my concentration slipping or even falling asleep.
I've always wondered what the official IAM or RoSPA view on it was.
I've always wondered what the official IAM or RoSPA view on it was.
I've got it on my daily driver, and the missus has it on hers.
Both of us use it quite a lot - on all types of road. Interestingly I'd not really bothered with it until the last year or so, and now I wouldn't buy a car without it.
Does it make you lazy? Not IMO - to use it effectively you really do need to look a long way ahead.
Both of us use it quite a lot - on all types of road. Interestingly I'd not really bothered with it until the last year or so, and now I wouldn't buy a car without it.
Does it make you lazy? Not IMO - to use it effectively you really do need to look a long way ahead.
I recognise some of the concerns noted about cruise control, but agree that with long range planning and observation there is no reason why it cannot be used safely.
Personally, I do use it, but only in a few circumstances - typically on long motorway journeys with light traffic, where a constant speed can be maintained with no compromise to my "safety bubble". By that I mean that, for example, I do not like to pass other cars / lorries slowly - I like to be alongside them for a short time only, and so if my cruise control is set so that I will only creep by, then I consider that a reduction in my safety bubble.
I do also use it in zones controlled by average speed cameras - sure, I can maintain a constant speed with my foot, but with everyone at the same speed, one's safety bubble is easier to maintain and hence cruise control can work well.
That said, modern systems are pretty good at allowing you to modify the speed as needed - a quick press on the gas pedal to get past another car, and then the system returns to its cruising speed.
I do recognise the concern re the braking foot. I tend to rest my foot on the floor when there are no immediate hazards visible, and then place over the brake when hazards are present.
Not surprisingly, I find times that I can use cruise in the UK quite limited thanks to our traffic density, when I want to be constantly tweaking my speed with acceleration sense. But on the continent, e.g. on my regular runs over to the Nurburgring, I find that cruise can reduce fatigue.
I've not yet tried one of these new radar controlled systems that adjusts the speed of the car automatically (to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front) - not sure I am quite ready to give up that level of control. Have others tried these?
Kind regards
Steve
Personally, I do use it, but only in a few circumstances - typically on long motorway journeys with light traffic, where a constant speed can be maintained with no compromise to my "safety bubble". By that I mean that, for example, I do not like to pass other cars / lorries slowly - I like to be alongside them for a short time only, and so if my cruise control is set so that I will only creep by, then I consider that a reduction in my safety bubble.
I do also use it in zones controlled by average speed cameras - sure, I can maintain a constant speed with my foot, but with everyone at the same speed, one's safety bubble is easier to maintain and hence cruise control can work well.
That said, modern systems are pretty good at allowing you to modify the speed as needed - a quick press on the gas pedal to get past another car, and then the system returns to its cruising speed.
I do recognise the concern re the braking foot. I tend to rest my foot on the floor when there are no immediate hazards visible, and then place over the brake when hazards are present.
Not surprisingly, I find times that I can use cruise in the UK quite limited thanks to our traffic density, when I want to be constantly tweaking my speed with acceleration sense. But on the continent, e.g. on my regular runs over to the Nurburgring, I find that cruise can reduce fatigue.
I've not yet tried one of these new radar controlled systems that adjusts the speed of the car automatically (to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front) - not sure I am quite ready to give up that level of control. Have others tried these?
Kind regards
Steve
carrotchomper said:
It's all fine and dandy until you hit a patch of water and go into aquaplane mode... When constant acceleration is the last thing you want...
Yes, this happened to me. E39 520 touring. Caught it. Just.
I've heard about that happening, but never experienced it or even seen it on a video. What was it like?Yes, this happened to me. E39 520 touring. Caught it. Just.
It's odd really. I've done some advanced training (Police response course) and the advice when you feel the aquaplane coming on is to ease off the power.
If you were on cruise and the traction control activated then it wouldn't be a problem, since it cuts out. Obviously in an aquaplane there is no loss of "traction" as such.
Basically, it was a little un-nerving since the car did not correct itself, however the cruise was rapidly turned off which sorted the issue. The car just felt a little unsettled, and it was disconcerting to feel the car accelerate slightly by itself to bring the wheels "up to speed". If I hadn't taken any action I imagine the situation would have degenerated rapidly...
If you were on cruise and the traction control activated then it wouldn't be a problem, since it cuts out. Obviously in an aquaplane there is no loss of "traction" as such.
Basically, it was a little un-nerving since the car did not correct itself, however the cruise was rapidly turned off which sorted the issue. The car just felt a little unsettled, and it was disconcerting to feel the car accelerate slightly by itself to bring the wheels "up to speed". If I hadn't taken any action I imagine the situation would have degenerated rapidly...
Edited by carrotchomper on Wednesday 13th August 21:50
carrotchomper said:
It's all fine and dandy until you hit a patch of water and go into aquaplane mode... When constant acceleration is the last thing you want...
Yes, this happened to me. E39 520 touring. Caught it. Just.
Why would you be using cruise control in those sort of conditions anyway?Yes, this happened to me. E39 520 touring. Caught it. Just.
205lad said:
carrotchomper said:
It's all fine and dandy until you hit a patch of water and go into aquaplane mode... When constant acceleration is the last thing you want...
Yes, this happened to me. E39 520 touring. Caught it. Just.
Why would you be using cruise control in those sort of conditions anyway?Yes, this happened to me. E39 520 touring. Caught it. Just.
Before getting my current car I used a drive a Saab that had cruise control but this wasn’t of much use because of traffic density meaning if you used it you had to disengage it too frequently.
However I use to have to travel a lot for my work and 5 years ago bought a MB CLK55 AMG that had “distronic” cruise control. This is adaptive and so you set the speed you want to run at and if the traffic slows the cruise control will apply the brakes and slow you down and then when the road is clear or the traffic speeds up the control will accelerate to you pre-designated speed.
So when travelling long distances even in congested motorways the cruise control works very well. This is especially useful for me as I use hand controls and so it give my hand a rest from modulating the hand accelerator and lets me relax it a little. This can make a big difference on long journeys and since I have had the distronic I haven’t hand cramp in my hand from driving! (In fact I wouldn’t buy a car without it now).
The only time it caught me out was on a drive back from Barcelona when just south of Limoges I aquaplaned and crashed. This was probably due to having driven for too long a period without a break, being very near the destination hotel and too eager to get there meaning that I had mentally switched off from thinking about the worsening weather ....
So on balance they are great bits of kit but as with all things there are some associated risks.
However I use to have to travel a lot for my work and 5 years ago bought a MB CLK55 AMG that had “distronic” cruise control. This is adaptive and so you set the speed you want to run at and if the traffic slows the cruise control will apply the brakes and slow you down and then when the road is clear or the traffic speeds up the control will accelerate to you pre-designated speed.
So when travelling long distances even in congested motorways the cruise control works very well. This is especially useful for me as I use hand controls and so it give my hand a rest from modulating the hand accelerator and lets me relax it a little. This can make a big difference on long journeys and since I have had the distronic I haven’t hand cramp in my hand from driving! (In fact I wouldn’t buy a car without it now).
The only time it caught me out was on a drive back from Barcelona when just south of Limoges I aquaplaned and crashed. This was probably due to having driven for too long a period without a break, being very near the destination hotel and too eager to get there meaning that I had mentally switched off from thinking about the worsening weather ....
So on balance they are great bits of kit but as with all things there are some associated risks.
I think for me it's firstly a question of attention span. Modulating the throttle up and down hills gives me something to do on a motorway. 70mph on a motorway is incredibly dull!
Secondly, it unerves me to have something controlling my speed. It's not as if it's smooth these days with drive by wire throttle either! Normally ina modern DBW car your speed slows noticeably before the cruise cuts in and then accelerates you up to the required speed. I find it makes me feel rather queazy! Rather like being driven by those people who can't hold a speed, they have to accelerate or decelerate constantly (I'm sure we all know someone that does this!).
Secondly, it unerves me to have something controlling my speed. It's not as if it's smooth these days with drive by wire throttle either! Normally ina modern DBW car your speed slows noticeably before the cruise cuts in and then accelerates you up to the required speed. I find it makes me feel rather queazy! Rather like being driven by those people who can't hold a speed, they have to accelerate or decelerate constantly (I'm sure we all know someone that does this!).
Podie said:
205lad said:
carrotchomper said:
It's all fine and dandy until you hit a patch of water and go into aquaplane mode... When constant acceleration is the last thing you want...
Yes, this happened to me. E39 520 touring. Caught it. Just.
Why would you be using cruise control in those sort of conditions anyway?Yes, this happened to me. E39 520 touring. Caught it. Just.
[quote=Carrot (Mapped)]
I take it you won't be playing my fun and challenging new game which involves setting the cruise control at a suitably challenging speed prior to a set of hairpins then? 205lad said:
[quote=Carrot (Mapped)]
light rain.
Cruise off.light rain.
There's some fun to be had out of getting pissed out of your mind and setting cruise on a Landcruiser to 40kph and then see how long you can leave it there before you hit something hard in the sand/something breaks.
How we have a discussion on using cruise control on an advanced driving Forum seems to me like an oxymoron?
BOF.
PS - "There's some fun to be had out of getting pissed out of your mind and setting cruise on a Landcruiser to 40kph and then see how long you can leave it there before you hit something hard in the sand/something breaks.
Oxymoron is different from moron...the above post crossed mine.
BOF.
PS - "There's some fun to be had out of getting pissed out of your mind and setting cruise on a Landcruiser to 40kph and then see how long you can leave it there before you hit something hard in the sand/something breaks.
Oxymoron is different from moron...the above post crossed mine.
Edited by BOF on Thursday 14th August 19:06
BOF said:
How we have a discussion on using cruise control on an advanced driving Forum seems to me like an oxymoron?
BOF.
PS - "There's some fun to be had out of getting pissed out of your mind and setting cruise on a Landcruiser to 40kph and then see how long you can leave it there before you hit something hard in the sand/something breaks.
Oxymoron is different from moron...the above post crossed mine.
Drinking and driving can be fun- where it is safe and legal to do so.BOF.
PS - "There's some fun to be had out of getting pissed out of your mind and setting cruise on a Landcruiser to 40kph and then see how long you can leave it there before you hit something hard in the sand/something breaks.
Oxymoron is different from moron...the above post crossed mine.
Edited by BOF on Thursday 14th August 19:06
I use cruise control in a similar way to stefan.
On the motorway with light traffic its handy to set it to 70, mainly to stop me from using too much petrol.
On my car you can press the throttle to accelerate, so if im overtaking ill push the speed up so im not along side anybody for too long then I gently let go of the throttle and let the cruise bring me back to 70 again.
If the traffic gets heavy or there are hazzards ahead I will turn the cruise off untill im past, then press resume and im back at 70 again.
Its a nice thing to have but its only useful on the motorway when traffic is light.
On the motorway with light traffic its handy to set it to 70, mainly to stop me from using too much petrol.
On my car you can press the throttle to accelerate, so if im overtaking ill push the speed up so im not along side anybody for too long then I gently let go of the throttle and let the cruise bring me back to 70 again.
If the traffic gets heavy or there are hazzards ahead I will turn the cruise off untill im past, then press resume and im back at 70 again.
Its a nice thing to have but its only useful on the motorway when traffic is light.
Lad,
If you are remotely referring to your vast experience in the 'deserts' of Dubai, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and the other Emirates...or the roads from the airports to the towns covered in new cars, wrecked, with 50 miles on the clocks.
Because the jungle bunnies got rich on oil and let their 12 and 14 year old kids kill themselves while they were getting brainless on illegal Scotch, while I was trying to sleep in the hotel near the sand dunes where the kids were too small to see over the friggin wheel or reach the pedals?
Is that your idea of driving?...do you suggest that we adopt that standard in the UK?
La - Insh'Allah...No - God Willing.
BOF
Tisbah alla Kheer!
If you are remotely referring to your vast experience in the 'deserts' of Dubai, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and the other Emirates...or the roads from the airports to the towns covered in new cars, wrecked, with 50 miles on the clocks.
Because the jungle bunnies got rich on oil and let their 12 and 14 year old kids kill themselves while they were getting brainless on illegal Scotch, while I was trying to sleep in the hotel near the sand dunes where the kids were too small to see over the friggin wheel or reach the pedals?
Is that your idea of driving?...do you suggest that we adopt that standard in the UK?
La - Insh'Allah...No - God Willing.
BOF
Tisbah alla Kheer!
Edited by BOF on Thursday 14th August 21:06
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