What are the reasons for NOT using Cruise Control?

[dragoneggs]

Do you run right up on the bumpers of folk who are passing, but doing so slower than you would? Do you immediately try to pass on the right if they're getting a couple car lengths ahead before moving over?

If either of those are you, you are an aggressive driver and it will eventually bite ya in the rear (and needs to as soon as possible). I drive over the speed limit often myself, but I do so where there is no traffic to contend with and when in traffic always drive defensively like nobody can see me and will pull out and hit me at any time.

I drive with the flow or faster in light traffic and good conditions... I do not run up on someone's rear if they are passing. No... I try not to pass on the right. That is not the best practice and can be more dangerous for several reasons... especially when we are talking about three lanes of traffic. I do let someone that is 'sitting' in the left lane know I am there while trying not to tail too close... I flash my lights after awhile. I am patient to a point but many are oblivious or just trying to regulate rather than move over.

Not sure what you are implying that it 'needs to as soon as possible'? I won't label myself a great driver but far better than most. I have done some track and off-road racing in various vehicles so I am not your average driver and have driven in many countries from Europe to Asia left and right side.

 

[Sysop]

"needs to as soon as possible" was referring to the "getting bit in the rear" that happens to all aggressive drivers eventually. It sounds like you're not in that group. I personally try to think of everyone driving all the cars around me as nervous old ladies and not make them feel scared or rushed simply because I am wanting to go faster than they are.

 

[LD1]

Sysop....you describe the aggressive driver perfectly. Far too many of them here in Ohio. I71 is 3- lane for most of the state.

Not uncommon to see truckers going 68-70 in the right lane, some faster truckers and average cars running 75 is in the middle, and all bets off in the left lane. But it's usually never less than 5 over.

I see it all the time. I am in the left lane following 2 or 3 cars. We are all passing a line of vehicles in the middle lane who are in turn passing trucks in the right. But the trucks in the right are space out a few hundred yards.

Just enough room for the aggressive bop-and-weave around.

There is defiantly something wrong when you are going from far left lane to far right lane and back 4 or 5 times per mile on a 3-lane freeway. The problem is NOT the drivers around you.

 

[MossRoad]

I'd be surprised if any of you use your cruise control more than, or even as much as, I do. We even have some places here in town with a 30 mph speed limit where I nearly always just use the cruise control. And naturally, I use it on the highway. Heavy traffic and wet or icy pavement are about the only things that keep me from using it.

I use mine in town as well. Anytime I can, I use it. Gives me more eye time on the road than glancing at the speedometer, keeps me from going too fast down hills. Works great in school zones. Its hard to go 25 in a school zone and keep your eyes on the road and not the speedometer. :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

You don't have any hills, or maybe you drive something with a 426 hemi in it. We have "hills" here. None of the cars and trucks I have owned will maintain speed on our "hills" more like mountains. I use it anyway, but have to take it off sometimes until I get to Ozark, where the landscape levels out to "rolling" and then the speed controls can keep up. Many of our hills, most truckers turn on their flashers and do the best they can to stay in the right hand lane. My 300 Plus horsepower Chevrolet will do a lot better than my minivan, but even it will not keep speed on a couple of them.

We had a 2000 Impala with the 3800 series II engine. Its cruise would hold most hills. In mountainous places, it would sometimes downshift, so I'd put it in drive instead of overdrive and I never found a hill it wouldn't hold at highway speeds.

Now, our 2013 Impala with the 6 speed auto is another story. I find its cruise varying -2MPH before it'll shift down and get back up to speed. On rolling terrain, +-2MPH is not uncommon. In mountains, it downshift quite often. And the manual gear selector under the left side of the steering wheel is just plain stupid. But, you can pull it back to 5th or 4th and it'll maintain a hill if you want to go through the hassle.

I think the more gears you have, the more variance you'll get out of a cruise control with it wanting to step on the gas and downshift a lot.

 

[MossRoad]

God I love living in Indiana.... :thumbsup:

If you're driving the speed limit (or even over the speed limit), sitting in the left lane and a faster car comes up behind you, you have to move over or face a $500 ticket for obstructing the flow of traffic. The only times it doesn't apply is in congested traffic, bad weather, or if you're exiting to the left.

They've given out over 100 tickets and 1500 warnings as of July.

100 ticketed in 1st year of Indiana highway slowpokes law | WSBT

 

[dragoneggs]

God I love living in Indiana.... :thumbsup:

If you're driving the speed limit (or even over the speed limit), sitting in the left lane and a faster car comes up behind you, you have to move over or face a $500 ticket for obstructing the flow of traffic. The only times it doesn't apply is in congested traffic, bad weather, or if you're exiting to the left.

They've given out over 100 tickets and 1500 warnings as of July.

100 ticketed in 1st year of Indiana highway slowpokes law | WSBT

Cool... I wish we paid more attention to lousy driving in WA. Honestly, I think if drivers would 'feel the flow' rather than drive in whatever lane suits their fancy... there would be far fewer 'accidents'.

 

[turnkey4099]

Unfortunately, those excuses dont work well in court or when pulled over.

Its clear you arent gonna change your mind, and I certainly aint changing mine (obviously because I dont have cruise control). So we will have to agree to disagree. But rest assured, I can maintain speed accurately, and dont impede the flow behind me unless they want to drive faster than I would even have the cruise set for. If a driver behind me dont like my driving, its unlikely that running CC would help.

The root cause of the issue, IS THE DRIVER BEHIND ME. PERIOD. If my small speed fluctuations when going up and down hill are causing someone to constantly be messing with their CC setting.....then DUH.....you have it set TOO fast. IF my goal is to drive 58 MPH.....I have no problem accelerating to 61 MPH in anticipation of a hill. And letting the speed drop to 55 MPH by the time I crest said hill. IF you leave your CC set and not try to accelerate to match my speed, you wont have a problem. But if you insist on keeping it close to my bumper by speeding up when I do.....Well tough *****, your gonna slow down when I do as well. And once the hill is crested and we resume 58 MPH....All will be well. Until the next hill.

Again, if you insist on following me so close that my minor speed changes causes you issues.....YOU are the problem and need to back off my bumper. Weather you follow me at 50 ft, 150 ft, or 500ft.....you aint gonna get there any quicker.

Odd that your imagined description of how I drive doesn't even come close. I will be following way back and your descripiotn of slowing at the top of the hill WILL casue me to have to slow down. And it is NOT due to tailgating.

Bottom line if you don't mind every body behind you having a poor opinion of your driving....have at it.

It does not take tailgating for your speed fluctuations to cause problems. Drive the "flow" (and no, you won't be pulled over) and join the crowd that tries not to cause problems on the road.

 

[turnkey4099]

Absolutely; and if you're referring to the slight changes in speed I'm thinking of and referring to as "havoc", you need your head examined. If they're going anywhere between 15MPH-under and the speed-limit, and their speed varies 5-8MPH between inclines and descents but remains within that 15-under and the speed-limit range, that is fine and dandy. If you don't like it and think the driver is infringing on your use of the roadway, call a cop. If that's all it takes to get you worked up, ya might want to consider therapy before ya stroke out or have a coronary.

So youdon'dt mind people behind you cussing your piss poor driving skills and anit social attitude. Got it..

 

[turnkey4099]

Funny... this thread seemed to have struck a nerve for some. I get the you're #1 sign occasionally too. Sometimes maybe deserved. I use CC quite often... can't get my better half to do it on the rare occasions I let her drive. Downhills I shut it off on my BMW because it downshifts to maintain speed and I don't like that. Both my F150 and BMW have enough power to easily climb grades under normal loads. If I am towing, I do not use CC unless flat. I admit, I am a fast driver. Rarely under/at the speed limit. Sorry but it is the way I roll. My big frustration is people not moving to the right when approached from behind. Driving in Europe is a pleasure... everyone seems to know the 'rules'.

I just heard about the systems that maintain the speed downhill and wondeered how they do it. Does it also apply breaks if required?

The 'flow' rate is rarely at or under the posted. I have driven every state except Hawaii on mostlyrural roads but also freeways. Flow was almost always be in the 'posted +_10%" range unless congested conditions.

People parking in the passing lane is a pet peeve all over this nation but the nerds still do it, even out here in Washington where it can be a very costly ticket.