What are the reasons for NOT using Cruise Control?

[dragoneggs]

"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.

Agreed... I don't want to pressure folks that choose to do a different speed than me.

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.

If someone asked if I am an aggressive driver, I would have to say it depends on how you define aggressive. I feel that being 'engaged' is a safer mode than passive. I think I am more aware of what is going on around me than the one just obediently staring only in front of them and watching their speed. I am constantly accessing the situation. Keeps me alert. I will decelerate, accelerate, and evade. The 'little old lady' will go merrily along. I guess I am aggressive but my record speaks... crap! Where is the wood?! :duh:

 

[turnkey4099]

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:

Same here but my cc won't hold speed back going downhill. One street I drive is a constant slope down for about 1/2 mile, have to be on the brakes constantly to keep 25 (20 in the school zone in the middle of the slope) so I drop down a gear in the slush box.

 

[dragoneggs]

One pleasure I take driving around town is to see how little you can use your brakes. My driving instructor said something to the effect that stuck with me. Before we took to the roads, our classroom was a small bunch of driving simulators (had to first of the kind) located in a portable on our high school campus. For some sick reason, me and classmates were challenging the 'course' trying not to use brakes. The simulator kept track of a few basic things. Ave speed, braking for hazards (or not), accidents, can't remember what else. But we had a simulated stick that will kill the engine if you didn't gas/clutch and it was three on the tree!

 

[Sysop]

Apparently folk just have a misunderstanding about what cruise control is for. It was intended for the wide open road. In town you never know when a kid will come chasing a ball or dog out directly into one of your wheel wells. When your foot is already at the ready modulating the throttle, it is a much easier and faster change to the brake than to have your foot relaxed and resting comfortably on the floorboard. To go through a school zone with cruise on is moronic. A kid in my class was hit and killed 30 feet from the front door of the school I went to in 2nd grade.

This thread makes me think many members will one day be the old man that set the cruise on his RV and went in back to make coffee.

 

[dragoneggs]

Apparently folk just have a misunderstanding about what cruise control is for. It was intended for the wide open road. In town you never know when a kid will come chasing a ball or dog out directly into one of your wheel wells. When your foot is already at the ready modulating the throttle, it is a much easier and faster change to the brake than to have your foot relaxed and resting comfortably on the floorboard. To go through a school zone with cruise on is moronic. A kid in my class was hit and killed 30 feet from the front door of the school I went to in 2nd grade.

This thread makes me think many members will one day be the old man that set the cruise on his RV and went in back to make coffee.

Couldn't agree more. I only use cc on highways and even at that I will override it with gas or brake as I see fit.

 

[Sysop]

Yep dragoneggs, changing speed is all part of it. I can't understand how folk expect everyone to go the same speed in all honesty. The driving dynamics of every vehicle on the road varies according to make, model, load, maintenance, what gasoline is used, all sorts of things, including the driver. Even setting cruise, all of the cruise systems work differently and are going to take you down the road in various ways. Just over the past several posts we've heard from people who's cars will downshift to prevent gaining speed, and others who's car will gain speed going down hills without downshifting to prevent it. That being the case, even with cruise it's never going to work out as perfect as the OP seems to think it should.

I think OP and some of these other folk need to start riding trains and planes more if they want everyone around them moving at the same speed. Even with all the driving aides in the world, driving is a dynamic task that has countless variables. If you can't keep up with all the variables, then I do feel sorry for you... If the guy in front of you makes you late, I do not feel sorry for you; you should have left IN TIME to account for any of the many variables rather than leaving to make it ON TIME.

If any of this is the biggest concern of your day, you are indeed lucky that you don't have any of the typical problems a real life consists of.

 

[Bird]

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

I don't know about all vehicles, but we have a relatively short stretch of city street with a couple of pretty steep hills and a 30 mph speed limit here in my neighborhood. When we had a 2014 Ford Escape, it was just incredible to me that it would hold the speed so precisely up and down hill by shifting up or down; no brakes. Now our 2015 Ford F150 will also shift up or down, as needed to maintain the set speed, but the speed will vary a couple of mph.

 

[check]

For me the main advantage of cc on the highway is to avoid speeding tickets. The cops set up their warning beepers on their radar to a certain speed, and so as long as you're under that, you won't get busted. That way you are safe from speeding tickets, and the cop in the radar trap can spend his/her time on his/her cell phone, surfing the web or whatever.

I also find that it is very relaxing with cruise control on the trip of 3 to 4 hours up to the cottage. And you can pay much more attention to what is going on around you if you are not constantly glancing at the speedometer. All in all, an amazing invention!

 

[Deere Dude]

For me the main advantage of cc on the higheay is to avoid speedin tickets. The cops set up their warning beepers on their radar to a certain speed, and so as long as you're under that, you won't get busted. That wait you are safe from speeding tickets, and the cop in the radar trap can spend his/her time on his/her cell phone, surfing the web or whatever.

I also find that it is very relaxing with cruise control on the trip of 3 to 4 hours up to the cottage. And you can pay much more attention to what is going on around you if you are not constantly glancing at the speedometer. All in all, and amazing invention!

I use the CC every chance I get. In town where the limit is 30 but everyone drives 35, I set it at 35. Where it is easy to speed because it seems the speed limit is to low and I find myself going 10-15 over, I drop it down to 5 over and set the CC.

At times without the CC turned on as in a 55 MPH zone I watch the construction, or the projects people have going on, or considering the jobs I need to do with my tractor, then I look down at the speedometer and I am going 45, so I kick it up a notch and turn on the CC.

The same 55 MPH zone without the CC on I may be thinking about the *** chewing I got from my wife or someone on TBN and I find myself going 70. Then the CC goes on even if for a mile or two.

 

[LD1]

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.

If you are indeed following way back, and maintaining the same speed on the open and flat road as I am....

If I speed up about 2-3 mph in anticipation of a hill.....I fail to see how slowing 2-3 mph below my normal speed is gonna cause you any issues. Could you please explain?