Cruise Control System is a modern-day driver assistance technology that now comes as standard in most of the new cars. When activated, the Cruise Control System manages the throttle/accelerator pedal linkage and helps maintain a constant speed without requiring driver’s input. It allows a driver to take the foot off of the accelerator pedal and makes driving convenient and stress-free.
The Cruise Control System has become the technology of choice for motorists who often drive on the highways. Besides adding to the comfort of driving by allowing motorists to take their foot off of the accelerator pedal, the Cruise Control System also helps in avoiding speeding penalties if motorists set their vehicle’s speed below the maximum speed limit of a highway.
While the Cruise Control System is an invaluable driver assistance system to have in modern-day cars, not using this technology appropriately can lead to dangerous situations.
Here are the four most important practices to follow for the safe use of Cruise Control System on the UAE highways.
Don’t Use Cruise Control When Driving in Rain
Using Cruise Control System while driving in heavy rain is considered to be an unsafe practice. In heavy rain, the tyres of a vehicle fail to tread through water fast enough if the Cruise Control System is not disengaged. This happens because the Cruise Control System attempts to maintain a constant speed when a driver should ideally be reducing the speed or adjusting the speed according to the road conditions. In such a situation, the driver can lose the control of the vehicle, which can cause a dangerous road accident.
Also read: Adaptive Cruise Control System for Cars – Everything You Need to Know about
Set Speed Appropriately
Highways in the UAE have a maximum speed limit and motorists are penalized with hefty speeding penalties for violating the set speed limit. Motorists should set the Cruise Control System at a speed below the maximum speed limit of a highway in order to avoid being caught by speed monitoring radars. For example, if the maximum speed limit of a highway is 140 Km/h, your Cruise Control System should be set below 140 Km/h to avoid speeding penalties.
The Table below shows the penalties for speeding violations according to the recently amended traffic law of the UAE.
Keep 100% Attention on the Road
It must be noted that Cruise Control System is just a driver assist technology and not an autonomous driving system. When the Cruise Control System is engaged, the driver has to control the steering wheel and maintain 100% attention on the road to apply brakes whenever needed. The driver might even need to switch off the Cruise Control System in an emergency situation to change the speed according to road or driving conditions. This is the reason why a driver cannot afford to be inattentive after activating the Cruise Control System.
Traffic leaving you in a jam this #CivicHoliday? Ford’s adaptive cruise control could get you out: https://t.co/X5cwmRcgD9 pic.twitter.com/yL96GhFfZT
— Ford Canada (@FordCanada) August 2, 2018
Also read: 5 Tips to Drive Safely on Busy Highways of the UAE
Staying Attentive and Fighting Drowsiness
The long and monotonous highway journeys can cause fatigue amongst drivers. With the Cruise Control System engaged, drivers tend to feel drowsy as they no longer have to maintain foot pressure on the accelerator pedal to maintain vehicle speed. This is the reason why the Cruise Control System should be disengaged immediately if a motorist feels drowsy while driving.
Don’t Miss a Scheduled Maintenance Checkup of the Cruise Control System
Considering the value the Cruise Control System offers as a driver assistance technology, it requires regular maintenance to remain reliable over a long period of time. The maintenance of Cruise Control System also involves the maintenance of a vehicle’s brakes and tyres as they play an important role in the working of Cruise Control System.
Cruise Control System is designed to be deactivated when brakes are applied. However, if the system doesn’t respond on applying brakes or if it cuts off unexpectedly, there could be something wrong with the brake release switch, which is part of the Cruise Control System. Regular inspection of brakes and replacing the brake release switch timely can help avoid sudden failure of the Cruise Control System.
Poorly inflated tyres can also disrupt the smooth functioning of the Cruise Control System as maintaining a constant speed can be difficult with poorly inflated tyres. Unfit or poorly inflated tyres can also take more time to slow down or stop if the driver applies brakes to disengage the Cruise Control System in an emergency situation, which can prove to have fatal consequences on a busy highway.
Also read: Introducing Car Maintenance Guide for Your Vehicles – Never Suffer a Car Breakdown Again
Bottom-line
Driver assistance technologies are designed to help drivers and proper usage of these technologies can make commuting more convenient, safe and pleasurable. However, not using these technologies correctly or considering them a substitute to driver’s attention can lead to dangerous road situations. Motorists can follow the aforementioned tips and the instructions mentioned in the car owner’s manual to maintain the Cruise Control System properly and use it in a safe way for stress-free commuting on the UAE highways.
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