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12-14-2009, 07:48 AM
JOHN HENRIKSON; The News Tribune
Published: 12/14/09 12:05 am | Updated: 12/14/09 6:43 am
traffic q&a Question: A reader forwarded an interesting chain e-mail, subject line “HOW MANY DRIVERS KNOW THIS.” It relayed this cautionary traffic tale:
“A 36 year old female had an accident several weeks ago and totaled her car. A resident of Kilgore, Texas, she was traveling between Gladewater & Kilgore. It was raining, though not excessive, when her car suddenly began to hydroplane and literally flew through the air.
“She was not seriously injured but very stunned at the sudden occurrence!
“When she explained to the highway patrolman what had happened he told her something that every driver should know NEVER DRIVE IN THE RAIN WITH YOUR CRUISE CONTROL ON. She had thought she was being cautious by setting the cruise control and maintaining a safe consistent speed in the rain. But the highway patrolman told her that if the cruise control is on and your car begins to hydroplane – when your tires lose contact with the pavement your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed and you take off like an airplane.”
After investing most of my 401(k) with that Nigerian prince, I’ve learned to take chain e-mails with a grain of salt. But this one sounds plausible – could it be true?
Answer: The e-mail is probably bogus, but the underlying point is true.
According to urban myth-buster Snopes.com, variations of this story started circulating in 2002. The original e-mail may be based on a true experience – who knows – but it’s become one of those “friend of a friend” tales that raises doubts. There’s even an Australian version with exactly the same wording, except “Wollongong & Sydney” swapped with “Gladewater & Kilgore” and “tyres” for “tires.”
But authorities agree with the fundamental point of the story.
You shouldn’t use cruise control in wet conditions – or, for that matter, icy or snowy conditions – said William Van Tassel, manager of driver training programs at the AAA national office.
The technical explanation isn’t exactly as the e-mail explains. Several sources debunk the idea that the cruise control would actually accelerate the car in a hydroplane.
Still, Van Tassel cites two reasons to avoid using cruise control during adverse conditions:
Control: One of your best defenses to slow down on wet or icy pavement is to immediately take your foot off the gas. You must tap the brakes to disengage cruise control, so you lose some response time.
Attention: “We want the driver to be engaged as possible during these hazardous road conditions,” he said. Having the cruise control on may lull the driver into inattention.
from: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/993123.html
Published: 12/14/09 12:05 am | Updated: 12/14/09 6:43 am
traffic q&a Question: A reader forwarded an interesting chain e-mail, subject line “HOW MANY DRIVERS KNOW THIS.” It relayed this cautionary traffic tale:
“A 36 year old female had an accident several weeks ago and totaled her car. A resident of Kilgore, Texas, she was traveling between Gladewater & Kilgore. It was raining, though not excessive, when her car suddenly began to hydroplane and literally flew through the air.
“She was not seriously injured but very stunned at the sudden occurrence!
“When she explained to the highway patrolman what had happened he told her something that every driver should know NEVER DRIVE IN THE RAIN WITH YOUR CRUISE CONTROL ON. She had thought she was being cautious by setting the cruise control and maintaining a safe consistent speed in the rain. But the highway patrolman told her that if the cruise control is on and your car begins to hydroplane – when your tires lose contact with the pavement your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed and you take off like an airplane.”
After investing most of my 401(k) with that Nigerian prince, I’ve learned to take chain e-mails with a grain of salt. But this one sounds plausible – could it be true?
Answer: The e-mail is probably bogus, but the underlying point is true.
According to urban myth-buster Snopes.com, variations of this story started circulating in 2002. The original e-mail may be based on a true experience – who knows – but it’s become one of those “friend of a friend” tales that raises doubts. There’s even an Australian version with exactly the same wording, except “Wollongong & Sydney” swapped with “Gladewater & Kilgore” and “tyres” for “tires.”
But authorities agree with the fundamental point of the story.
You shouldn’t use cruise control in wet conditions – or, for that matter, icy or snowy conditions – said William Van Tassel, manager of driver training programs at the AAA national office.
The technical explanation isn’t exactly as the e-mail explains. Several sources debunk the idea that the cruise control would actually accelerate the car in a hydroplane.
Still, Van Tassel cites two reasons to avoid using cruise control during adverse conditions:
Control: One of your best defenses to slow down on wet or icy pavement is to immediately take your foot off the gas. You must tap the brakes to disengage cruise control, so you lose some response time.
Attention: “We want the driver to be engaged as possible during these hazardous road conditions,” he said. Having the cruise control on may lull the driver into inattention.
from: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/993123.html