OT: Cruise control + water = bad?
09-19-2003, 09:02 PM
#1
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
OT: Cruise control + water = bad?
I got this forward from my gf today and I don't know if it's true or not but I thought it wouldn't do bad to post it anyways.
any comments?
An individual had a wreck a couple of weeks ago and totaled their Lincoln
Town Car. She hydroplaned on Hwy 135 between Gladewater & Kilgore, Texas.
She was not hurt, just emotionally rattled!
She learned a lesson I'd like to pass on to you. You may know this
already--but the highway patrolman told her that you should NEVER drive in
the rain with your cruise control on. He said if you did and hydroplaned
(which she did), that when your tires were off the road, your car would
accelerate to a high rate of speed (which it did). You don't have much,
if any, control when you hydroplane, but you are totally in the hands of God when the car accelerates. She took off like she was in an airplane. She is so thankful she made it through that ordeal.
Please pass the word around about not using cruise control when the
pavement is wet or icy. The highway patrolman said this should be on the
sun visor with the warning about airbags. The only person she found who
knew this (besides the patrolman) was a man who had a similar accident and totaled his car. This has made her wonder if this is not why so many of
our young people are dying in accidents. Be careful out there!!
Town Car. She hydroplaned on Hwy 135 between Gladewater & Kilgore, Texas.
She was not hurt, just emotionally rattled!
She learned a lesson I'd like to pass on to you. You may know this
already--but the highway patrolman told her that you should NEVER drive in
the rain with your cruise control on. He said if you did and hydroplaned
(which she did), that when your tires were off the road, your car would
accelerate to a high rate of speed (which it did). You don't have much,
if any, control when you hydroplane, but you are totally in the hands of God when the car accelerates. She took off like she was in an airplane. She is so thankful she made it through that ordeal.
Please pass the word around about not using cruise control when the
pavement is wet or icy. The highway patrolman said this should be on the
sun visor with the warning about airbags. The only person she found who
knew this (besides the patrolman) was a man who had a similar accident and totaled his car. This has made her wonder if this is not why so many of
our young people are dying in accidents. Be careful out there!!
09-20-2003, 03:37 AM
#6
Nordschleife Master
Sounds worth heeding the advice.
- Julie
- Julie
09-20-2003, 05:56 PM
#7
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
"This has made her wonder if this is not why so many of
our young people are dying in accidents"
Hahahah that there is a load of waffles.
Todays youth are dying because they are plain stupid, reckless, and think they are gods behind the wheels of their civics. Ive never heard of a youth dying recently in a hydroplaning accident here in vancouver. They die because of a) street racing b) running reds c) drinking d) speeding.
our young people are dying in accidents"
Hahahah that there is a load of waffles.
Todays youth are dying because they are plain stupid, reckless, and think they are gods behind the wheels of their civics. Ive never heard of a youth dying recently in a hydroplaning accident here in vancouver. They die because of a) street racing b) running reds c) drinking d) speeding.
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09-20-2003, 06:22 PM
#8
Nordschleife Master
I suppose it depends on how your speedometer gets its speed signal. If it is coming from the drive train/transaxle like many of our cars have, there should be no change in rotation and reported speed once you started to surf on the water. If it was coming from a non driven wheel, say like early 944's off the front wheel, I guess I could see that wheel slowing down and the cruise control cranking the motor up.
This is not to say using cruse control in water/ice conditions is a good idea. It increases your reaction time to get the car under your control since your feet are probably away from the pedals as you are relaxing away under cruise.
This is not to say using cruse control in water/ice conditions is a good idea. It increases your reaction time to get the car under your control since your feet are probably away from the pedals as you are relaxing away under cruise.
09-20-2003, 09:23 PM
#11
Big thirst, Sore Thumbs
Rennlist Member
Napoleon
Rennlist Member
Napoleon
Not sure, but you'd think that would be built into the software. Sudden decelaration without touching the brakes would trigger a flag and shut down the cruise.
But that could also be a bad thing. In those conditions it's just like snow, you don't want to accelerate fast, or decelerate fast, you want to ride through it and hope for control back in time.
But that could also be a bad thing. In those conditions it's just like snow, you don't want to accelerate fast, or decelerate fast, you want to ride through it and hope for control back in time.
09-20-2003, 09:53 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
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Originally posted by led
Maybe because when you first hit the water, the car decelerates and the cruise control accelerates it.
Maybe because when you first hit the water, the car decelerates and the cruise control accelerates it.
09-21-2003, 08:07 AM
#13
Burning Brakes
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On a side note, our cruise has a fault... Cruise is temporarily disengaged if you push the clutch while cruise is on, but automatically resumes ounce the clutch is released. This is true even if you press the clutch, put it in neutral, then release the clutch. Not that most normal people would find such a fault, but it's true. Not recomended for those who don't want to see there tach jump to redline for no reason.
09-21-2003, 09:19 AM
#14
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It's true...a friend of mine had a massive spin on the highway in his new E39 M5 in a similar situation.
When the car hits the puddle it slows down slightly, the cruise control tries to accelerate the car back to the original speed, majorly spins the real wheels and the rest is history...
FWIW - touching the brakes even slightly when this happens is not a good idea. It will imbalance the car even more. The only correct action is to depress the clutch.
When the car hits the puddle it slows down slightly, the cruise control tries to accelerate the car back to the original speed, majorly spins the real wheels and the rest is history...
FWIW - touching the brakes even slightly when this happens is not a good idea. It will imbalance the car even more. The only correct action is to depress the clutch.