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28 March 2024

5 tips on how to use cruise control safely on UAE highways

Published
By Majorie van Leijen

Driving at a speed of 120kmph, the 22-year-old Aysha Hassan got the shock of her life when she realised she was not able to deactivate her cruise control.

The intended crash into a police car in front of her saved her life.

That was earlier this week, but it wasn’t the first instance in the UAE where panicking drivers called the cops because they could not interrupt their high-speed cruise controlled drive.

In 2013 alone, three cases of a failing cruise control occurred on UAE highways.

Cruise control is a great tool that can support a driver in long hour trips or on constant speed stretches.

The system takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a steady speed as set by the driver.
Whenever the driver resumes control, the cruise control is deactivated.

However, there are a few instances when applying cruise control can lead to dangerous situations.

A wise handling of the cruise control system is important.

Driving in the rain

On a rainy day, applying cruise control is not advised. In any unstable road condition it is not wise to apply cruise control, thinks Rizwan Ali, Workshop Manager of Cars-Clinic at Salim Ali bin Haidar Garage. “When an emergency occurs, the driver should be able to respond immediately.”

On a wet surface, there is the risk of skidding. This happens when the tyre cannot tread through the water fast enough. If the car resumes at a constant speed, this can only make the skidding worse.

“The system does not recognise a slippery road, or any other risks, so it will continue to push the vehicle at its set speed. The driver should be able to respond to emergencies, and turn off the cruise control in such condition,” added Rizwan.

Set your speed

Because cruise control will adapt the throttle to move the vehicle at the speed the driver has indicated, it is important to think twice before this speed is set.

Some drivers will say they use cruise control to avoid speeding tickets.
On a road where the maximum speed is 140kmph, they will set the speed at 138 or 139 kmph, just right to move ahead steadily and safely pass the speed radars.

Setting the speed at any higher than the speed limit is an invitation to a fine.

In any case, it is not wise to use the cruise control at a speed higher than 150kmph, believes Rizwan.

“The higher the speed, the longer it takes for the brakes to slow down the vehicle. It becomes more difficult to deactivate the system.”

At the same time, driving at a low speed does usually not require cruise control either, he says. “Driving in the city, driving on narrow roads; here you do not need cruise control. It is most ideal for highway driving at a 120-130kmph speed.”

Stay focused

Taking away one point of attention should not lead to an overall loss of focus. On the contrary, the driver should be extra alert in case a situation arises where the cruise control should be suddenly deactivated.

“What you see is that drivers moving on cruise control have put their feet somewhere far from the pedals. This is not safe, you should always be ready to push the brake or accelerator,” said Rizwan.

Further, keeping your eyes on the road is essential. Any obstacle or situation that requires quick action should be observed.

Car maintenance

Because proper functioning of a vehicle relies on many factors and many parts of the car, it is important that all are in check.
The failure of one system can jeopardise the functioning of another part of the car.

“It is very important that your brakes are in good condition, because it is often by the brakes that the cruise control is deactivated,” said Rizwan.

Similarly, the condition of the tyres influence the functioning of the cruise control system.

An underinflated tyre makes it more difficult to put a vehicle to stop or slow down, so does a worn out tyre.

Cruise control failures

Eventually, maintenance of the cruise control system itself is paramount.   A non-functioning cruise control system can lead to very dangerous situations.

Most likely, a failure in the cruise control system will mean that it cannot be activated either.

This can be noticed by checking whether the light on the dashboard switches on as the system is activated. If it does not, your cruise control does not function at the moment.

There are several elements that can lead to a cruise control system failure. The problem can be in the vacuum system, in the wiring, the control unit, the Vehicle Speed Sensor, or the steering column.

In any case, periodic check-ups are not a luxury, said Rizwan. “It is recommended that vehicle owners have their cruise control checked every six months. A technician will be able to see if the cruise control is functioning properly.”