Date:         Fri, 14 Feb 2003 13:16:04 -0500
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Raining-no cruise control
Comments: To: SStones <sstones@IDIRECT.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <5.2.0.9.0.20030214121033.00a356f0@postoffice.idirect.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Hmm, Let me disagree with your analysis, but mostly support your
conclusion...

Cruise controls work by monitoring the speed of the car...AS MONITORED
BY THE VEHICLES CONTROLS.

If you are hydroplaning, those controls may not register the actual
vehicle speed accurately. I've seen a 40 mph difference between actual
speeds and monitored speed (i.e. speedometer) when hydroplaning (I was
doing 60 and the speedometer read 20). Rear wheel drive vehicle (VW
bug) and the speedometer cable connects to the front wheels.

To keep a straight line my steering was off to one side (which shifted
when my tires got back on the pavement.) The danger lies with what
happens if your wheels are pointed to the side and turning at the same
speed as your actual speed (cruise control did that for you). As soon
as your wheels contact pavement, your car will veer, just as if you had
turned the wheel sharply at speed. The faster your wheels are turning
the more the veer is likely to be (and hence why the cruise control
could be nasty.)

The urban legends site mark this as a "real" story. Now to go to the
conclusion phase. If you are paying attention to your driving, this is
not a big risk in my opinion. The problem lies in those who are using
cruise control to lessen their attention to the rigors of driving. Bad
weather requires more attention and cruise control isn't recommended in
any such situations. Besides, if one notices one is hydroplaning the
worst possible thing to do is to try to keep up speed. (I was younger
and stupider in those days... I experimented with that hydroplaning for
a lot of miles on US 50...)


On Friday, February 14, 2003, at 12:27  PM, SStones wrote:

> Theres just no way
> that the cruise control would decide to just kill you because a wheel
> was
> able to spin freely.