I well realise that there are a lot of people out there who, like myself have spent a lot of years on the road, so I will approach the following carefully. For those who are, maybe setting off on the BIG trip, and as a rule, don't drive long distances very often, this may be of help. If the holiday "home" is a campervan, caravan or just a car, (whatever) then there is going to be a lot to see, and a lot of driving to do. So, you drop your bum into the right hand seat, fire up the motor, set the air/con, or heater, turn on the CD, cassette player or radio, wriggle your bum to get comfortable, then go. The open road stretches out before you. Then, if fitted, you engage, what I consider the most dangerous accessory in any motor vehicle. The CRUISE CONTROL ! I honestly believe that the use of this control can, and has resulted in so many bad, or fatal smashes. I have driven vehicles with C/C's and when engaged, I felt that I had lost 90 percent of vehicle control. Once, I tested myself against the sometimes bordem of long distance travel and switched on the C/C when driving a very fast express coach down the west coast. (Highly illegal 140 kph) Within a very short space of time, I found I had relaxed, too much. From habit, I had gauges and mirrors to check every few minutes. However, when approaching a bend with a recommended 90 KMPH, I was half way through it before I realised that when I had lifted the right foot, the coach was still doing a 140 kph. I HAD LOST CONCENTRATION for maybe ten seconds. Had the road been wet, and if I had braked sharply, which the body wanted me to do, but the "grey matter" said, NO, I'm almost sure I would have had a bad smash. I fully realise that my opinion may cause some argument, but please, when travelling, don't let the "cruise", control you. Regards Pipes
brickies said
03:05 PM Mar 24, 2011
So true total agree with all stated above very good post but you will find a lot out there will not agree with you . I have done advanced driving courses were you prove the foot control for bends on the road getting your speed adjusted for the bend and maintaining the same speed through the bend then driving out when your see the strait road ahead . Last year I drove from Ingham to Townsville with a friend who is 75 he told me he would have got there quicker than me has he uses cruise control just set it on 100 kph he told me I slow down to much for bend , at one stage ask why I had slowed down I pointed out a possible hazed I was tod I was to defencife I took that has a complement after attending many accindent you are aware of driving for the other driver has well I for one would never use C/C
rockylizard said
03:13 PM Mar 24, 2011
Gday...
Yer dead rite mate. Loss of concentration is a CERTAIN killer when driving a vehicle - no matter what it is.
Letting ya mind wander, even without CC, and not noticing the speed advisory signs on corners or that shiny bit on the road or that change in surface or that animal grazing on the side of the road or chatting to the people in the vehicle or trying to chastise the kids in the back or getting mentally involved with that song or conversation on the radio or talking on the mobile (even hands free) or talking on the CB - everything we do when supposedly in control of a vehicle will impact on CONCENTRATION. So - no matter what you are doing in the vehicle - whether on CC or not - concentrate and make sure you are not getting fatigued or bored.
The motor vehicle is the MOST dangerous thing we use in our lives - be wary of it.
Cheers
and despite all that - happy travelling
John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 24th of March 2011 03:14:04 PM
-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 24th of March 2011 03:15:17 PM
Onedodger said
04:33 PM Mar 24, 2011
This is utter bulldust,
if you are a driver then cruise control will make no difference.
Perhaps it is because you are LAZY drivers who are prone to losing concentration therefore you then become dangerous drivers.
gillyb said
04:49 PM Mar 24, 2011
Quite a few years ago now my son almost killed himself driving from south australia to Melbourne at night. He was driving a 6wk old toyota celica when having the car set on cruise control he fell asleep veered off the road, hit a large storm water drain flipped the car over twice and had to be cut out unconsious. He luckily escaped with a double broken jaw, cracked shoulder blade and a deep cut to his head and a black eye. The good part of it is that because he was in cruise control he somehow had both his feet up on the seat (unbelievable) but this also saved his legs as the car bonnet was completely squashed to the floor, the pedals unable to be seen, the only undamaged part of the car was one wing mirror which he has kept as a reminder of how lucky he was.
Cruising Granny said
04:53 PM Mar 24, 2011
I don't like cruise control and if it was in my vehicle I wouldn't use it.
When working in WA the boss's Landcruiser had c/c and I did try it on the long run to Derby. I didn't like the feeling of not have TOTAL control of the vehicle I was driving. My concentration didn't lapse, but it just didn't feel secure.
I have since read using c/c in very wet conditions confuses the technology and can lead to speeding up and then losing control on the slippery surface.
Cruise control may be convenient in "ideal" conditions, but not in traffic, in adverse weather, or tricky terrain.
Maybe on the long straights on the Nullarbor, the WA Great Northern Highway, the NT, Pt. Augusta to Three Ways, those sorts of long, straight highways, in IDEAL conditions.
I have known people set the c/c at 60KPH, in the 'burbs, and let it role. Terrifying for the passenger, ME!
I think it's lazy way and could lead to concentration lapses.
It's not ourselves we have to concentrate on, but the other bloke and all the world around us. Be alert! We need more "lerts".
Sheba said
06:00 PM Mar 24, 2011
I posted this one around 2 years ago.
Cheers,
Sheba.
Reply Quote
I never used to use it when I had the Forester. I reckon that's how a lot of accidents happen.
Put on CRUISE CONTROL, and you don't have to concentrate on anything. Makes it too easy to go to sleep on long trips.
__________________
ozi2 said
06:22 PM Mar 24, 2011
rockylizard wrote:
Gday...
Yer dead rite mate. Loss of concentration is a CERTAIN killer when driving a vehicle - no matter what it is.
Letting ya mind wander, even without CC, and not noticing the speed advisory signs on corners or that shiny bit on the road or that change in surface or that animal grazing on the side of the road or chatting to the people in the vehicle or trying to chastise the kids in the back or getting mentally involved with that song or conversation on the radio or talking on the mobile (even hands free) or talking on the CB - everything we do when supposedly in control of a vehicle will impact on CONCENTRATION. So - no matter what you are doing in the vehicle - whether on CC or not - concentrate and make sure you are not getting fatigued or bored.
The motor vehicle is the MOST dangerous thing we use in our lives - be wary of it.
Cheers
and despite all that - happy travelling
John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 24th of March 2011 03:14:04 PM
-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 24th of March 2011 03:15:17 PM
Great reply mate and absolutely spot on. Ask any police officer or emergency services crew attending fatalities what was in the drivers hand (ie mobile ph, cd) and was cruise control involved (in use) and that is before alcohol, drugs, legal/illegal and fatigue. I speak from handling the consequences.
sandsmere said
07:08 PM Mar 24, 2011
Agree 100% Pipes .
And anyone that tows a van using cruise control . . . . . well , for a start you will use at least 20% more fuel .
But , as you said Pipes , some of 'em will argue with you .
milo said
07:13 PM Mar 24, 2011
my dad uses cruise control around town, ill never use it, dont like it ...
ChiChi1 said
07:43 PM Mar 24, 2011
After driving many miles without CC I finally got a car with. Love it. I found that I was constantly checking speedo when I didn't have it (Hume well patrolled) and now with CC that is one less thing I needed to worry about. But after reading posts might be more circumspect from now on.
brickies said
07:53 PM Mar 24, 2011
MY car has a built in alarm which you can set at any speed which will sound if you go over the speed selected so you don't have to kept checking speedo
Father Ted said
08:03 PM Mar 24, 2011
brickies wrote:
MY car has a built in alarm which you can set at any speed which will sound if you go over the speed selected so you don't have to kept checking speedo
That is the way to go.In other words you take responsibility for your own right foot.
Hylda&Jon said
08:03 PM Mar 24, 2011
found this on the internet & added the little bit of my own thoughts in bold writing:
Advantages
There are a number of advantages to speed control systems, including:
· Automatically maintaining speed reduces driver fatigue, by increasing the comfort of the driver and reducing the likelihood of painful leg cramps. (very true & you can lose the sensitivity of the foot on the peddle after a long period, but, maybe then would be a good time to stop the car & have a stretch)
· Cruise control reduces the likelihood of being pulled over for speeding by maintaining a pre-set speed. (a GPS can do this as well by presetting a warning sound into it for a specific speed)
· A maintained speed allows for better fuel economy by reducing acceleration. (except when you hit a hill & find it has dropped a gear to keep up the speed when you would have preffered to let the speed drop to save the fuel)
· Many drivers find that the speed system is more relaxing, as it reduces the amount of attention they constantly have to pay to the speedometer.(can relate to that)
Disadvantages
Unfortunately, cruise control systems have a number of disadvantages as well, largely due to the automation of the process. Some of the most notable disadvantages include:
· Because they require no attention from the driver, speed control systems sometimes encourage highway hypnosis. Accidents have been known to occur in which drivers who weren't paying attention to the road drove off a curve or into other cars because of the constant speed.
· Driving on a bad (or wet)road surface can cause a car set to a constant speed to skid (or hydroplane) uncontrollably, with the driver unable to disengage the control fast enough to respond to the situation.(also if the foot isn't kept VERY handy to the break peddle at all times then in an emergency the time it takes to engage might be the difference between life & death)
Cheers
Jon
brickies said
08:11 PM Mar 24, 2011
There is a road safety solgon drive to conditions , bit hard to do that if your sitting back on CC
Landfall said
08:47 PM Mar 24, 2011
brickies wrote:
There is a road safety solgon drive to conditions , bit hard to do that if your sitting back on CC
That thing on the end of your right leg is called a foot, on CC it will be doing nothing, if you lift it up and place it on the brake pedal for just a fracttion of a second to get the brake lights to operate, it will cancel out the CC.
That is called "driving to the conditions."
As a professional driving instructor, I constantly tell my pupils that there are only TWO skills required to keep you alive in a car.
1. Good observation skills.
2. The first will allow you to "Drive to the conditions."
Whether you use a CC or not, there is only one person in control of the car (You), about time people started to take responsibility for their actions and not blame the "road, weather, other drivers, the CC. etc"
Dusty
dogbox said
08:54 PM Mar 24, 2011
just picture your self driving down the road you have a heart attack the c/c is set at 100 kph you leave the road at 100kph an keep going till something stops you or you dont have c/c the foot comes off the petal you leave the road at a reduced speed a keep slowing til you stop or hit something but at a reduced speed
the same when you doze the foot relaxs the veichle slows
Landfall said
09:04 PM Mar 24, 2011
Dogbox, When you doze, the foot does not necessary "come off" it can get heavier and you leave the road at the same speed or faster, either way you hit something or someone.
If you feel drowsy, STOP and have a rest, that's obsevation skills, which in turn leads to driving to the conditions.
Dusty
-- Edited by Landfall on Thursday 24th of March 2011 09:06:00 PM
-- Edited by Landfall on Thursday 24th of March 2011 09:06:23 PM
DellieMay said
11:28 PM Mar 24, 2011
I HATE cruise control......I think it's dangerous. Dero loves it, and uses it all the time. Different preferences, I guess.
Cheers Dellie
Beth54 said
09:53 AM Mar 25, 2011
I don't have CC, but have on occasion, driven cars with it. I liked it at the time, but I must admit, it made me nervous. More nervous than I would normally be. Because I wasn't in control of the vehicle.
ozjohn said
10:28 AM Mar 25, 2011
Like Auto, Air Con and power steering I wouldn't own a car without cruise control. OJ
Benwerrin said
11:13 AM Mar 25, 2011
I rate ABS brakes equally as dangerous, it has cought me out many a time on gravel or fast braking, only quick thinking on my part avoided disaster.
ChiChi1 said
11:58 AM Mar 25, 2011
I agree. Was run up the back by a young bloke coming around a corner and not realising there was a build up of traffic waiting for lights to change. He blamed ABS. I was a bit sceptical but since getting a car with ABS, I can almost understand. It goes back to, you must keep your concentration on what you are doing at all times and be aware of what is going on around you.
Cruising Granny said
10:58 PM Mar 25, 2011
Welcome to Grey Nomads Father Ted. It seems your entrance has been overlooked in the discussion.
Thank you for your contribution, and I look forward to your contributions.
Safe and happy travels.
Cruising Granny said
11:02 PM Mar 25, 2011
Welcome to you too Dog Box. I look forward to hearing more from you.
Safe and happy travels.
Zoomtopz said
07:23 AM Mar 26, 2011
Hello fellow "steering wheel attendants" - well if you think about it .
Remember if you wanted th air on - you opened th flipper windows and th front vent .
I still do that , I have a couple of old Bedfords .
You wanted to know how to get somewhere , you pulled up at a garage and asked th Bloke ,
he took th time to tell you , now you get ignored by a console operator , who tells you to
buy a map or street directory , or you go to Dicks & buy a gps- I will NEVER use them , I got
taught how to read a map . I AM a Better Driver than c-c . I trid it once , in pic of my truck.
On Hay plains & Broken Hill to Cobar . Guess what Syd-Adel , I did that run a lot, fuel varied
5-10litres . with c-c 60litres extra . when compared to previous driver , c-c same . I am a
Vietnam Vet - I got taught MORE about road safety than surviving Vietnam . To any protestors
of that era - 510 Aussies were killed in Vietnam - 863 Australian defense personnel were
killed on Australian roads for the same period we were involved in Vietnam . I did not hear
anybody protesting about cars & road toll . As I have said previously - For every vehicle
class I have driven , I have been accredited to drive - car , 4x4 , hire-car , bus , truck ,
fire-truck , ambulance , semi-trailer , b-double , road-train . I have never ridden a bike ,
don't want to , have not towed a caravan - maybe not too far off . What am I getting at -
DRIVING not Distractions - I thought I got taught how to drive - NO , I got taught how to
get a licence . I got taught how to drive @ the Navy driving school . Then I did Defensive
driving courses , THEN I did an Advanced driving course . Here endith th lesson.
Richo
Beth54 said
10:18 AM Mar 26, 2011
Truck drivers are the best drivers in Australia, no doubt about that. They have to put up with so much stupidity and/or carelessness on the highways and byways.
I don't know what goes into getting a licence these days, but from what I've seen on the roads, people are not being taught enough about how to drive near a truck.
I saw one just the other day. A truck was rounding a corner at the lights, and he had to stop for the stupid car driver who tried to slip around at the same time, otherwise he'd have driven over the top of him. It only takes a couple of seconds to wait for the truck to round the corner.
Sorry for veering off the thread.
Smokeydk said
04:05 PM Mar 26, 2011
Unlike most I tow a small van....using cruise control......last trip I did one trip without and used 20% more fuel ...speed kept going up.....as said before..take lots of breaks...and get out of the car and walk around just not sit there.
Happywanderer said
04:58 PM Mar 26, 2011
Beth, I saw something like that a while ago here in Echuca. A B-Double going around a roundabout in the outside lane of course. Silly little car thought they would use the inside lane. Obviously had no idea how much room a truck needs. Ended up being pushed up into the garden in the middle, sort of crushed between the truck, edge of road and the garden. Stopped all traffic for a while.
Beth54 said
05:31 PM Mar 26, 2011
Happywanderer wrote:
Beth, I saw something like that a while ago here in Echuca. A B-Double going around a roundabout in the outside lane of course. Silly little car thought they would use the inside lane. Obviously had no idea how much room a truck needs. Ended up being pushed up into the garden in the middle, sort of crushed between the truck, edge of road and the garden. Stopped all traffic for a while.
And that car driver will be going around telling everyone that the truckie was a cowboy etc etc.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Saturday 26th of March 2011 05:32:52 PM
I well realise that there are a lot of people out there who, like myself have spent a lot of years on the road, so I will approach the following carefully. For those who are, maybe setting off on the BIG trip, and as a rule, don't drive long distances very often, this may be of help. If the holiday "home" is a campervan, caravan or just a car, (whatever) then there is going to be a lot to see, and a lot of driving to do. So, you drop your bum into the right hand seat, fire up the motor, set the air/con, or heater, turn on the CD, cassette player or radio, wriggle your bum to get comfortable, then go. The open road stretches out before you. Then, if fitted, you engage, what I consider the most dangerous accessory in any motor vehicle. The CRUISE CONTROL ! I honestly believe that the use of this control can, and has resulted in so many bad, or fatal smashes. I have driven vehicles with C/C's and when engaged, I felt that I had lost 90 percent of vehicle control. Once, I tested myself against the sometimes bordem of long distance travel and switched on the C/C when driving a very fast express coach down the west coast. (Highly illegal 140 kph) Within a very short space of time, I found I had relaxed, too much. From habit, I had gauges and mirrors to check every few minutes. However, when approaching a bend with a recommended 90 KMPH, I was half way through it before I realised that when I had lifted the right foot, the coach was still doing a 140 kph. I HAD LOST CONCENTRATION for maybe ten seconds. Had the road been wet, and if I had braked sharply, which the body wanted me to do, but the "grey matter" said, NO, I'm almost sure I would have had a bad smash. I fully realise that my opinion may cause some argument, but please, when travelling, don't let the "cruise", control you. Regards Pipes
Gday...
Yer dead rite mate. Loss of concentration is a CERTAIN killer when driving a vehicle - no matter what it is.
Letting ya mind wander, even without CC, and not noticing the speed advisory signs on corners or that shiny bit on the road or that change in surface or that animal grazing on the side of the road or chatting to the people in the vehicle or trying to chastise the kids in the back or getting mentally involved with that song or conversation on the radio or talking on the mobile (even hands free) or talking on the CB - everything we do when supposedly in control of a vehicle will impact on CONCENTRATION. So - no matter what you are doing in the vehicle - whether on CC or not - concentrate and make sure you are not getting fatigued or bored.
The motor vehicle is the MOST dangerous thing we use in our lives - be wary of it.
Cheers
and despite all that - happy travelling
John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 24th of March 2011 03:14:04 PM
-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 24th of March 2011 03:15:17 PM
This is utter bulldust,
if you are a driver then cruise control will make no difference.
Perhaps it is because you are LAZY drivers who are prone to losing concentration therefore you then become dangerous drivers.
Quite a few years ago now my son almost killed himself driving from south australia to Melbourne at night. He was driving a 6wk old toyota celica when having the car set on cruise control he fell asleep veered off the road, hit a large storm water drain flipped the car over twice and had to be cut out unconsious. He luckily escaped with a double broken jaw, cracked shoulder blade and a deep cut to his head and a black eye. The good part of it is that because he was in cruise control he somehow had both his feet up on the seat (unbelievable) but this also saved his legs as the car bonnet was completely squashed to the floor, the pedals unable to be seen, the only undamaged part of the car was one wing mirror which he has kept as a reminder of how lucky he was.
I posted this one around 2 years ago.
Cheers,
Sheba.
I never used to use it when I had the Forester. I reckon that's how a lot of accidents happen.
Put on CRUISE CONTROL, and you don't have to concentrate on anything. Makes it too easy to go to sleep on long trips.
Great reply mate and absolutely spot on. Ask any police officer or emergency services crew attending fatalities what was in the drivers hand (ie mobile ph, cd) and was cruise control involved (in use) and that is before alcohol, drugs, legal/illegal and fatigue. I speak from handling the consequences.
Agree 100% Pipes .
And anyone that tows a van using cruise control . . . . . well , for a start you will use at least 20% more fuel .
But , as you said Pipes , some of 'em will argue with you .
found this on the internet & added the little bit of my own thoughts in bold writing:
Advantages
There are a number of advantages to speed control systems, including:
· Automatically maintaining speed reduces driver fatigue, by increasing the comfort of the driver and reducing the likelihood of painful leg cramps. (very true & you can lose the sensitivity of the foot on the peddle after a long period, but, maybe then would be a good time to stop the car & have a stretch)
· Cruise control reduces the likelihood of being pulled over for speeding by maintaining a pre-set speed. (a GPS can do this as well by presetting a warning sound into it for a specific speed)
· A maintained speed allows for better fuel economy by reducing acceleration. (except when you hit a hill & find it has dropped a gear to keep up the speed when you would have preffered to let the speed drop to save the fuel)
· Many drivers find that the speed system is more relaxing, as it reduces the amount of attention they constantly have to pay to the speedometer.(can relate to that)
Disadvantages
Unfortunately, cruise control systems have a number of disadvantages as well, largely due to the automation of the process. Some of the most notable disadvantages include:
· Because they require no attention from the driver, speed control systems sometimes encourage highway hypnosis. Accidents have been known to occur in which drivers who weren't paying attention to the road drove off a curve or into other cars because of the constant speed.
· Driving on a bad (or wet)road surface can cause a car set to a constant speed to skid (or hydroplane) uncontrollably, with the driver unable to disengage the control fast enough to respond to the situation.(also if the foot isn't kept VERY handy to the break peddle at all times then in an emergency the time it takes to engage might be the difference between life & death)
Cheers
Jon
That thing on the end of your right leg is called a foot, on CC it will be doing nothing, if you lift it up and place it on the brake pedal for just a fracttion of a second to get the brake lights to operate, it will cancel out the CC.
That is called "driving to the conditions."
As a professional driving instructor, I constantly tell my pupils that there are only TWO skills required to keep you alive in a car.
1. Good observation skills.
2. The first will allow you to "Drive to the conditions."
Whether you use a CC or not, there is only one person in control of the car (You), about time people started to take responsibility for their actions and not blame the "road, weather, other drivers, the CC. etc"
Dusty
Dogbox, When you doze, the foot does not necessary "come off" it can get heavier and you leave the road at the same speed or faster, either way you hit something or someone.
If you feel drowsy, STOP and have a rest, that's obsevation skills, which in turn leads to driving to the conditions.
Dusty
-- Edited by Landfall on Thursday 24th of March 2011 09:06:00 PM
-- Edited by Landfall on Thursday 24th of March 2011 09:06:23 PM
I don't have CC, but have on occasion, driven cars with it. I liked it at the time, but I must admit, it made me nervous. More nervous than I would normally be. Because I wasn't in control of the vehicle.
Like Auto, Air Con and power steering
I wouldn't own a car without cruise control.
OJ
Hello fellow "steering wheel attendants" - well if you think about it .
Remember if you wanted th air on - you opened th flipper windows and th front vent .
I still do that , I have a couple of old Bedfords .
You wanted to know how to get somewhere , you pulled up at a garage and asked th Bloke ,
he took th time to tell you , now you get ignored by a console operator , who tells you to
buy a map or street directory , or you go to Dicks & buy a gps- I will NEVER use them , I got
taught how to read a map . I AM a Better Driver than c-c . I trid it once , in pic of my truck.
On Hay plains & Broken Hill to Cobar . Guess what Syd-Adel , I did that run a lot, fuel varied
5-10litres . with c-c 60litres extra . when compared to previous driver , c-c same . I am a
Vietnam Vet - I got taught MORE about road safety than surviving Vietnam . To any protestors
of that era - 510 Aussies were killed in Vietnam - 863 Australian defense personnel were
killed on Australian roads for the same period we were involved in Vietnam . I did not hear
anybody protesting about cars & road toll . As I have said previously - For every vehicle
class I have driven , I have been accredited to drive - car , 4x4 , hire-car , bus , truck ,
fire-truck , ambulance , semi-trailer , b-double , road-train . I have never ridden a bike ,
don't want to , have not towed a caravan - maybe not too far off . What am I getting at -
DRIVING not Distractions - I thought I got taught how to drive - NO , I got taught how to
get a licence . I got taught how to drive @ the Navy driving school . Then I did Defensive
driving courses , THEN I did an Advanced driving course . Here endith th lesson.
Richo
Truck drivers are the best drivers in Australia, no doubt about that. They have to put up with so much stupidity and/or carelessness on the highways and byways.
I don't know what goes into getting a licence these days, but from what I've seen on the roads, people are not being taught enough about how to drive near a truck.
I saw one just the other day. A truck was rounding a corner at the lights, and he had to stop for the stupid car driver who tried to slip around at the same time, otherwise he'd have driven over the top of him. It only takes a couple of seconds to wait for the truck to round the corner.
Sorry for veering off the thread.
And that car driver will be going around telling everyone that the truckie was a cowboy etc etc.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Saturday 26th of March 2011 05:32:52 PM