Know Everything About Cruise Control Systems in A Car

Posted on: Jul 20, 2023 | | Written by:

Know Everything About Cruise Control Systems in A Car

Published on July 20, 2023. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

When I buy my car, I will set out on long drives, without having to worry about anything. If you have this feeling, you are most likely a driving enthusiast who would test their cars with long drives. And for the enthusiasts, who wish to do more of that, modern car features will enable you to do so. One feature that stands out for such convenience, is cruise control. If you are wondering what is cruise control, here is all that you need to know.

Understanding what a cruise control system is

What is cruise control is a common question that a lot of car buyers have. It is a feature that is available in some cars, that allows a car to maintain a steady speed, set by the driver, without any need for inputs from the driver. When you enable cruise control at a certain speed, your car will continue with that exact speed on its own, until you disable or apply brakes. Given the convenience that it brings to the table, it is being added to a lot of top-spec cars in India, even a few hatchbacks.

When should you engage cruise control?

Cruise control in cars is ideal for those long highway drives. Imagine doing a few hundred kilometres during a trip by merely controlling the steering and not any other pedals. It would not only make your drive a lot more relaxing but also ensure that you reach the destination with a lot more energy.

It is highly recommended that you use cruise control in cars when the weather is clear and on the highways. Using cruise control in adverse weather conditions will make it difficult to control the car due to its higher speeds. A few modern-day cars come equipped with adaptive cruise control, which can be used for city driving, apart from being a great feature for the highways.

What does adaptive cruise control mean?

Adaptive cruise control takes cruise control in cars to the next step. It isn’t that different from normal cruise control. However, adaptive cruise control regulates the speed of your car, based on the speed of the vehicle ahead of you. Apart from maintaining a speed similar to the car in the front, it will also keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. If you are someone who drives a lot, you will thoroughly enjoy and cherish this nifty feature. And the best part is, you can even use it in traffic conditions, thereby giving you relief from hectic driving days.

How does cruise control work?

Cruise control systems have been around for a while. Thus, there are different ways in which cruise control is implemented. For example, some of the older cars used accentuators to replicate the action of a driver. With the help of a cable, the accelerator was controlled, which then maintained a constant speed.

Most of the newer cars rely on electronics for cruise control. There are several sensors that work with the ECU or Electronic Control Unit. The ECU calculates the throttle input based on the current speed and adjusts the speed of the car accordingly, without any cables.

How to enable cruise control?

The following are the steps that you need to follow to enable cruise control on your car.

1. Build a steady speed in your car, which you want to maintain for a period of time. Ensure that the speed isn’t too much so that you can take evasive action when needed or slow down on time.

2. Once you have reached the desired speed, engage cruise control on the car. Usually, cars have a button on the steering wheel to start cruise control.

3. After switching on the cruise control, you must set the speed at which you want the car to continue cruising. Which, by now, would be the current speed of the car. Once set, the car will continue moving at that speed, without any accelerator inputs.

4. While on cruise control, you can change the cruising speed as well. Most cars have a + and – buttons to increase or decrease the cruising speed. Depending on the car model, the increments or decrements can either be 1 kmph or 2 kmph. Some manufacturers even allow you to increase/decrease the speed by holding on to the + or – button.

5. To get out of cruise mode, you simply need to apply brakes on your car. Applying brakes automatically disengages the cruise control in cars and the car will no longer continue at the speed designated earlier. This mechanism also reduces the chances of accidents, by avoiding the need to manually get out of cruise control.

6. Alternatively, you can switch off cruise control by pressing the cancel button on the steering wheel.

Now that you know what is cruise control, you may start using it judiciously. However, the buttons and functionalities might differ a bit, based on the car that you own and its model. It is advisable that you get acquainted with the system before you can start using the system.

Cruise control in cars aims at improving driving convenience. Though the system improves drivability, it must be used very carefully. Using a car insurance plan is one of the safest ways to protect yourself, your car, and your finances from unforeseen events.

Comprehensive car insurance will safeguard your car against natural calamities, man-made calamities, accidents, and injuries.

Conclusion

Cruise control systems can make driving a car, a tireless and joyous experience. However, you must keep in mind, that you must always be attentive while using cruise control. And to ensure a hassle-free experience, do not forget to opt for a motor insurance plan.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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