A great feature that automatically maintains a vehicle’s speed is the cruise control system, which is standard on many cars. You’re prepared for a relaxing, productive drive once you understand how to use cruise control!
How to use cruise control? Locate your car’s cruise control switches, study the layout of the switches, drive your car until you reach your desired speed and hit “SET.” Stop cruise control whenever you need to, resume cruise control, if you want, and change the cruise control speed when necessary.
Please read on for more detailed information
How to Use Cruise Control?
Here is an easy step-by-step guide on how to use cruise control:
Locate Your Car’s Cruise Control Switches
These are typically located on the steering wheel or the steering column, which connects the steering wheel to the dashboard area. The steering wheel’s controls typically consist of a few buttons. If the car’s controls are on the steering column, look for a protruding lever that is typically found next to the wiper lever.
- If you can’t locate the cruise control switches, consult the owner’s manual for your car.
Study the Layout of the Switches
The controls on each car model appear slightly different. The controls are usually, though, legibly labeled. You should see one or two buttons to turn cruise control “ON” and “OFF,” another labeled “SET,” and one labeled “RES” (meaning “resume”). Your car may also have a switch labeled “CANCEL.” Learn where each of these buttons is located.
- When using cruise control, many vehicles have additional buttons (denoted by a +/-) that allow the driver to increase or decrease speed.
Drive Your Car until You Reach Your Desired Speed and Hit “SET.”
The vehicle’s cruise control will be configured to maintain stability at a particular speed. Once you reach the speed you want (keep an eye on your car’s speedometer), push the “SET” button. At this point, you don’t need to keep your foot on the gas pedal to keep your car moving.
- There are some car models where the cruise control won’t work below a certain speed, like 40 mph (64 km/h).
Stop Cruise Control Whenever You Need To
It’s time to turn off or at least pause cruise control if you need to slow down, stop, turn, or do anything else while driving. This is easy to do, but there are a few different methods:
- Simply press the brake as you normally would to briefly turn off cruise control, such as when a car in front of you brakes.
- By depressing the clutch pedal while operating a manual transmission vehicle, you can also turn off cruise control.
- If you are completely done using cruise control, you can press the “OFF” or “ON/OFF” switch.
- If your car has a cruise control “CANCEL” switch, you can also press that to stop it.
Resume Cruise Control, If You Want.
When braking for a car in front of you, for example, you may occasionally only need to briefly turn off cruise control. When you’re ready to get back into cruise control, just get back up to (or near) your desired speed and hit the “RES” button. Your vehicle will resume cruise control at the previously set speed.
Change the Cruise Control Speed When Necessary
For instance, let’s say you were using cruise control while driving on a road with a 55 mph (89 km/h) speed limit, and then you entered a zone with a 70 mph (110 km/h) speed limit. Just press the gas pedal to bring your car up to the new speed, and hit the “SET” button again. By doing so, the cruise control will be set to the new speed.
- If your car has a +/- button for cruise control, use it to increase or decrease your vehicle’s speed.
When Shouldn’t You Use Cruise Control?
Even though cruise control has a lot of advantages, there are some situations where using it is dangerous. Avoid cruise control:
When there is a lot of traffic, when driving winding roads, when going downhill, and when approaching a bridge. Basically, whenever it is not practical to maintain a constant speed.
On slick roads, which include those affected by snow, ice, torrential rain, and hailstorms, as the likelihood of sliding is increased.
late at night or when you’re worn out. Cruise control may soon give way to snooze control. It’s simpler to nod off and lose control of your car because you don’t have to keep your foot on the accelerator.
Follow These Safety Rules
No matter which type of cruise control your car has, the guidelines for using it effectively and safely are the same:
- Always stay vigilant and aware of oncoming traffic, and be prepared to take control and brake or steer around obstructions, negligent drivers, or emergency situations.
- Think of even the most advanced adaptive and semi-autonomous cruise control systems as “dumb.” They are human-programmed and may behave erratically under certain, unanticipated circumstances. (See previous point: “remain alert.”) Rain, snow, and fog can muddle radar signals and perplex cameras or sensors, sometimes completely disabling adaptive cruise control. An advanced cruise system requires you to be constantly ready to take full control at any time, just like traditional cruise control does.
- Even now, highways and areas with little traffic are the best places to use cruise control. If your vehicle has conventional (not adaptive) cruise control, be sure to leave adequate spacing between your car and those ahead, and be prepared to disengage the system by braking or tapping “cancel” as you creep up on other vehicles or get into heavy traffic.
- Do not use cruise control in slippery conditions, including snowy or icy roads or rain-soaked roads awash in deep puddles. Most cruise controls will try to keep you going until you take over, and on slick roads, that could cause you to briefly lose traction, upsetting the car and possibly causing an accident.
You’ll travel for many miles in comfort and without stress if you approach cruise control as a straightforward labor-saving convenience, but one that must be watched.
How Does Cruise Control Work?
With the help of an electronic system called cruise control, you can set the accelerator of a car to a certain speed and let go of the pedal.
In a sense, it’s like using automatic pilot while driving.
On A-roads and highways without many stops and turns to negotiate, cruise control is intended to be used.
Formerly only found on high-end luxury vehicles, it is now frequently installed on even the smallest city cars.
It is turned on by pushing buttons while driving. On/off, Set, Cancel, and Resume are the main controls.
Speed control has its origins in the 18th century when it was used to control steam engines, but modern cruise control was created in 1948 by American mechanical engineer Ralph Teetor, who is blind.
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FAQs
Can You Brake on Cruise Control?
Most models either have additional buttons or let the driver briefly press the accelerator pedal while in cruise control. To decelerate, either tap the appropriate button on the cruise control system or quickly apply the brake.
Do You Press the Pedal on Cruise Control?
Find the cruise control button on your car; it’s typically located on the steering wheel. Hold your foot firmly on the gas pedal once you have reached the desired speed. Set the cruise control by pushing the cruise on/off button, then take your foot off of the gas.
What is the Minimum Speed for Cruise Control?
The primary purpose of cruise control is to enable you to maintain a minimum speed of 25 mph or greater without holding down the accelerator. When NOT to use cruise control: Cruise control can be hazardous when you CANNOT drive safely at a constant speed.
Can You Slow Down on Cruise Control?
As you set a following distance, adaptive cruise control can either speed up or slow down your car to maintain it. Advanced versions can even slow and stop your car in traffic jams, then accelerate for you.
Summary: How to Use Cruise Control?
How to use cruise control? Locate your car’s cruise control switches, study the layout of the switches, drive your car until you reach your desired speed and hit “SET.” Stop cruise control whenever you need to, resume cruise control, if you want, and change the cruise control speed when necessary.
Your chosen speed will be maintained primarily by cruise control, saving you from having to keep your foot on the gas pedal. Nowadays, almost all vehicles on the road rely on an electronic control module, or computer, to monitor the speed of the car and adjust it as necessary to maintain the chosen speed regardless of the gradient of the road.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment. KV Auto tries to give you the best car industry information. Thank you for reading.
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