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 loose contact with
the pavement -
your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed and you take off like
an airplane.. She told the patrolman that was exactly what had occurred.
We all know you have little or no control over a car when it begins to
hydroplane. You are at the mercy of the Good Lord. The highway patrol
estimated her car was actually traveling through the air at 10 to 15
miles per hour faster than the speed set on the cruise control.
The patrolman said this warning should be listed, on the drivers seat sun
visor - NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR ICY -
along with the airbag warning.
We tell our teenagers to set the cruise control and drive a safe speed -
but we don't tell them to use the cruise control only when the pavement
is dry.
The only person the accident victim found, who knew this (besides the
patrolman), was a man who had had a similar accident, totaled his car and
sustained severe injuries.
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 loose contact with
the pavement -
your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed and you take off like
an airplane.. She told the patrolman that was exactly what had occurred.
We all know you have little or no control over a car when it begins to
hydroplane. You are at the mercy of the Good Lord. The highway patrol
estimated her car was actually traveling through the air at 10 to 15
miles per hour faster than the speed set on the cruise control.
The patrolman said this warning should be listed, on the drivers seat sun
visor - NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR ICY -
along with the airbag warning.
We tell our teenagers to set the cruise control and drive a safe speed -
but we don't tell them to use the cruise control only when the pavement
is dry.
The only person the accident victim found, who knew this (besides the
patrolman), was a man who had had a similar accident, totaled his car and
sustained severe injuries.
