Cruise control is a great feature, especially on those long road trips. However, using cruise control on slippery roads is not a good idea. Cruise control operation on rainy days can result in a skid or spin when driving on low-traction surfaces. Keep reading to learn why you should not use cruise control in the rain.
Why shouldn’t you use cruise control in the rain?
Using cruise control when driving in the rain, snow, hail, sleet, ice, and slippery roads can affect the system’s ability to maintain a constant vehicle speed. For example, cruise control set too fast on wet roads could cause the vehicle to hydroplane when it encounters standing water.
Rainwater causes the oil and grease on the streets to rise to the top of the water. This creates a slippery surface that causes your car to hydroplane because the tires cannot tread through the water fast enough.
The scary part is that you do not even have to be driving fast for a car to hydroplane -especially if you have worn out tires. Hydroplaning can occur at speeds as low as 56 mph. Cruise control increases the chance of hydroplaning because the feature maintains a consistent speed.
In most cars, the feature can be disabled by hitting the brakes, but doing this, it can make the skidding worse, especially if you don’t have anti-locking brakes.
What is Aquaplaning?
Aquaplaning is where your wheels ride upon a cushion of water, essentially skating over the water’s surface because the tread in the tires is not sufficiently deep to disperse it fast enough. When you are aquaplaning, you have very little grip, and therefore any acceleration applied to the engine will be able to make the wheels spin faster and more easily.
Cruise control makes hydroplaning worse by trying to keep your vehicle going at a constant speed. You can disable it by applying your brakes, but if you do not have anti-lock brakes, hitting your brakes while hydroplaning will only worsen the skidding.
Is cruise control safe?
Yes. There are instances when using cruise control in the rain is not catastrophic. If you have traction control and electronic stability control enabled in your car, using cruise control is extremely safe.
Cruise control in snow and ice is a different matter because you wouldn’t be traveling fast enough to warrant using cruise control. Many vehicles don’t let you set the cruise control at less than 30kph. If you do not have traction control or stability control, cruise control is dangerous in heavier rain or standing water.
Is it illegal to use cruise control in the rain?
No. but you are legally and financially liable if you cause an accident by using cruise control in the rain. It is not advisable to use cruise control in the rain. The reason is that unsophisticated cruise control systems on older cars or cheaper new cars will continue to apply more power if it detects that it needs more power to maintain a particular speed.
When driving on wet roads, disable your cruise control and lower your speed. If you start to skid or hydroplane, take your foot off the gas, grasp the steering wheel with both hands, and steer toward the direction of the skid. Once you have some control, you can correct your car and get centered back in your lane.
Top tips for driving safely in the rain
Here are some safety tips to help you drive safely in the rain;
Double Check Your Car’s Equipment
Ensure that your car’s equipment is in working order before encountering rainy weather. Check your headlights, taillights, and windshield wipers to make sure that they will work efficiently when they are needed. Also, check the tread of your vehicle’s tires. Balding tires can severely reduce traction on wet roadways. Most states require tires to have a tread depth of at least 2/32″ to stay on the road
Avoid Sudden Movements
When accelerating, turning, braking, or steering in the rain, drive smoothly to retain maximum control. Make gradual speed or steering changes, and start slowing your vehicle by taking your foot off the gas earlier than you normally would before gently squeezing the brake pedal.
Don’t Use Cruise Control
Normally in wet conditions, lifting your foot off the accelerator transfers weight to the front of the car and slows you down enough to allow your vehicle to regain traction. However, the car won’t respond until you press on the brake when cruise control is engaged.
Avoid cruise control when driving in the rain leaves you with more options in a loss-of-traction situation.
Turn On Your Defroster
Avoid windshield fogging that can interfere with your visibility by turning on your front and rear defrosters to clear it up. It will also enable you to see better during foggy days.
Slow Down
You should adhere to the posted speed limit when driving in wet weather conditions, but you should also drive considerably slower than you normally would. Wet roads are very dangerous. In addition, your vehicle’s reaction time is much slower when it is raining. Therefore, reduced speed is imperative in rainy weather.
Turn on Your Headlights
Most states require drivers to turn on their vehicles’ lights while driving in the rain. Even if it is only misting, turning on your vehicle’s headlights will increase your visibility and other drivers’ ability to see your car on the road.
Use Your Windshield Wipers
While this may seem like common sense, some people forget to turn on their windshield wipers in light rain. Most cars’ windshield wiper speed is adjustable to clear moisture from the glass in a light mist or a heavy downpour.
There are also several products available that can be sprayed or wiped onto the glass and claim to defer rainwater collection. Your wipers should be replaced if you can hear a scraping noise or see some streaking from the blades
Maintain a Safe Distance Between Cars
Keep a greater distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you. Stopping your vehicle will be more difficult when driving in the rain. Maintain a distance of several car lengths between your car and other vehicles.
Avoid Heavy Braking
Try to slow your vehicle by taking your foot off the accelerator earlier than you normally would in preparation to slow down or stop. Don’t use cruise control, so your attention on using both the gas and brake are in tune.
Watch Out for Standing Water
Driving through standing water can cause hydroplaning, which is when you lose traction and skid across the road’s surface. To avoid hydroplaning, drive around places where water has collected by changing lanes or safely steering around such areas. Six inches of water can cause loss of control on the road
Let Off the Gas When Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is one of the most common car accidents in the rain because drivers can lose control. If your car hydroplanes, calmly take your foot off the accelerator and steer. You should steer in the direction that the front of your car wants to go. Avoid making sudden turns or slamming on your brakes.
Ventilate Your Car
Rain causes humidity levels to increase. As a result, you may find that your vehicle’s windows become foggy when you operate it while it is raining. Most cars’ ventilation systems include a function that will reduce this type of fog that develops on the interior of your windows and windshield. It may be necessary to pull over if you can no longer see through your windows.
Lower the temperature inside your car quickly by cracking a window if your vent system doesn’t help. Staying safe while driving in the rain is simple if you make a conscious effort to employ these safety precautions.
Know the Roads
Roads are built to withstand different weather conditions in different parts of the country, so if you’re new to an area, use extra caution during or after a storm. Take a moment to consider your route, too.
If it takes you through low-lying bridge underpasses or past ditches prone to flooding, it might be a good day to take the freeway instead.
Don’t Drive into the water
If water is covering the markings on the road, it’s too deep to drive on. You can lose control with as little as three inches of water on the road. And even if you manage to stay in control, a larger vehicle could push some of that water underneath your car, causing your engine to stall.
Steer Where You Want to Go
If you’re going too fast and end up hydroplaning. Turn the wheel in the direction you want to go. Do not be afraid if you don’t steer out of the skid. It may take three to five adjustments to get back on course.