Never Use Cruise Control When it's Wet?

[ModernAndy]

It's actually been a while since I've had a car with cruise control but I read a shared post on somebody's Facebook that warned of the dangers of using cruise control when the road is wet as the car can suddenly accelerate if it hydroplanes. I am a bit skeptical about this so has anybody heard that this can be an issue and confirm this?

[ModernAndy]

Debaser said:

OP, don't worry about it. If conditions are bad enough that you think aquaplaning is likely, use common sense.

Indeed and that is the approach I always drive with, I would never ever, ever set cruise control to a daft speed for the conditions.

I'm not so much asking about correct driving techniques as much as I'm interested in if cruise control can be flummoxed by road conditions though. I am also aware that the car isn't going to break physics and take off, I'm just wondering is it possible to cause a loss of control by using cruise when conditions are really bad.

[ModernAndy]

J4CKO said:

Are these the same people that post that Gypsies are going round marking houses where the owners have a dog so they can later come and steal it ?

Probably, it definitely was one of those types of posts. It did mention the car 'taking off' but I didn't take that too literally, I just thought they were exaggerating a skid of some variety.

[ModernAndy]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Does it not occur to them that the people who did it and who are dead, aren't around to post their experiences!

We could start a thread about Russian roulette, and no doubt there'd be someone who did it and who isn't dead. That doesn't prove it's safe.

That gave me a very genuine lol

[ModernAndy]

Sounds like there's actually a lot more truth to this than I originally thought (and I'm obviously not saying you'll crash/die if using CC in the wet). The 'article' did also mention that some cars (American made) have CC that won't work if the wipers are on.

[ModernAndy]

Debaser said:

ModernAndy said:

Sounds like there's actually a lot more truth to this than I originally thought

No there isn't. Cruise control in the wet is perfectly safe.

As has been said above, on modern cars absolutely but on older cars with more 'primitive' systems it appears you might have to watch out so there definitely is more truth to this than I originally thought.

[ModernAndy]

Debaser said:

The issue above relates to driving around bends on a mountain road in an old American pick up, in the wet, with cruise control on.

If you need a Facebook warning to tell you that might not be a great idea then fair enough.

I agree. I wouldn't use cruise control on windy roads at all even in perfect conditions, I don't like the lack of throttle control going round corners. I just didn't think there was any chance of a car on cruise control going out of control and crashing and it appears I was wrong.