Non radar cruise control and the passing car...
Discussion
Had to do a quick trip to Leicester and back yesterday afternoon, and in an effort to have a relaxing and fuel-efficient journey I set the cruise at a steady pace.
As the journey there was after at 11.30am and the run home was after the rush hour, M1 traffic was reasonably light but I still had to play the cruise gamble from time to time.
We all know the situation. You're in lane one/ two trundling along and a car is approaching ahead some way in the distance. You are enjoying the cruise control, so you don't want to disable it, however that passing car is taking its time to pass you so you can't pull out immediately.
Hmm, that car ahead is getting closer and that passing car is still alongside but we're not unsafe yet. You're indicating your intention to pass, with one foot over the brake (hoping you won't need to use it) as the gap closes...can we make this?
Some you win, some you lose. Satisfaction is guaranteed if you make it and pass without touching the brake, most of the time you give a light touch anyway, only to realise you didn't need to and that you could have made it. Frustrating.
Know what I mean?
It is a cool story, so no need to point it out....
As the journey there was after at 11.30am and the run home was after the rush hour, M1 traffic was reasonably light but I still had to play the cruise gamble from time to time.
We all know the situation. You're in lane one/ two trundling along and a car is approaching ahead some way in the distance. You are enjoying the cruise control, so you don't want to disable it, however that passing car is taking its time to pass you so you can't pull out immediately.
Hmm, that car ahead is getting closer and that passing car is still alongside but we're not unsafe yet. You're indicating your intention to pass, with one foot over the brake (hoping you won't need to use it) as the gap closes...can we make this?
Some you win, some you lose. Satisfaction is guaranteed if you make it and pass without touching the brake, most of the time you give a light touch anyway, only to realise you didn't need to and that you could have made it. Frustrating.
Know what I mean?
It is a cool story, so no need to point it out....
Garlick said:
Hmm, that car ahead is getting closer and that passing car is still alongside but we're not unsafe yet. You're indicating your intention to pass, with one foot over the brake (hoping you won't need to use it) as the gap closes...can we make this?
I always found cruise control a bit rotten for MPG, as it takes no account of inclines and doesn't spare the horses when accelerating up to speed. Not to mention it has poor acceleration sense when approaching slower moving traffic, so generally puts you into situations where you're speeding up and slowing down.I haven't tried any proper adaptive systems to see if they're any better, though.
If there is the slightest risk i'll have to be switching the cruise on/ off like that then I won't use it.
For me, cruise is only going to get switched on when I have a long trip on a relatively clear m-way without the need for constant adjustment/fiddling - otherwise its not really giving you any benefit is it?
For me, cruise is only going to get switched on when I have a long trip on a relatively clear m-way without the need for constant adjustment/fiddling - otherwise its not really giving you any benefit is it?
rob.e said:
If there is the slightest risk i'll have to be switching the cruise on/ off like that then I won't use it.
For me, cruise is only going to get switched on when I have a long trip on a relatively clear m-way without the need for constant adjustment/fiddling - otherwise its not really giving you any benefit is it?
Wasn't constant, sorry if it came across like it was. For me, cruise is only going to get switched on when I have a long trip on a relatively clear m-way without the need for constant adjustment/fiddling - otherwise its not really giving you any benefit is it?
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