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Cruise Control
Willow and I were travelling back from Morcambe last week. It was late evening with very little traffic so I set the Cruise Control to 75 mph in my Vectra and had a relaxing drive back to Accy. or so I thought!
I asked Willow what she would do to control the car should I be taken suddenly seriously ill while the Cruise Control is activated! (For those non-drivers, C.Con. is the ability to set the speed of the car so the foot can be taken off the accelerator without loss of speed) She was aware that a touch on the foot brake would cancel it out and in fact also the clutch pedal) but because of the centre console, the pedals are well out of reach! She could reach round and turn off the ignition - but would lose power steering and in all probability would engage the steering lock as she would need to reach round the steering column! It looked like her only option would be to steer the car at 75 mph until she ran out of petrol! I was seriously worried about this so delved into the hand-book on my arrival back at Accy - - and discovered a switch to disengage the C.Con! It is NOT the rocker switch with the two circular markers, it is the thin unmarked plastic strip to the left which I thought was just the casing. This is the ONLY way for a passenger to turn off the Cruise Control, should the worst ever happen, I hope Willow remembers:eek: http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/232...x4026wl.th.jpg |
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That is suposed to be a drver aid! Crikey it sounds more like a widow maker:eek:
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Just rember to use a postit note a womens best friend........well second best friend:D
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Sorry about the dig ladies, but this is a serious issue as it involves safety which is supposed to be paramount on modern cars. I would like to bet that most if not all accyweb members, put into the scenario where the driver had a heart attack, would NOT be able to find that switch! Just imagine being in the front passenger seat, moving at 75 mph, driver dead or unconscious and you steering the car (which is not slowing down) by reaching over!http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/6830/panicbtn1id.gif |
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I hate to say it too but I am totally amazed that a so called responsible person like yourself would use an instrument like this to exceed the speed limit all the way back from Morcambe whist admitting to not fully knowing how to use this sort of technology. I don,t know what you were thinking about. Oh and on the side of the fairer sex most would have referred to the manual before taking to the road and risking everyones life. Maybe you should have done the same.
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naughty busman SPEEDING lol
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just a quick suggestion how about putting car into netural and letting it coast to a stop and when slow enough pull hand brake on slowly till car fully stopped while trying to keep it in a straight line.
why set to C.Con to be above speed limit busman surely 70 mph is fast enough??? |
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You will find that 75mph indicated on a car speedo is an actual 70 or sometimes less. My GPS shows my cars speedo at 76 for an actual 70, 84 = actual 77 (speed limit +10% which is the actual speed coppers will start to look at issueing a ticket)
Some cars are even further out. So sitting at an indicated 75 busman will probably not have been speeding. |
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no need to worry bussman a woman wil eventualy hit every single button there is to be hit in a car just worry when they start making their own buttons like eject or somthing :eek:
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Chav if a women in a car was to hit every button she found it could be that the ejector seat is an easier and safer option. Besides if a women was to have accesories in the car it would start with a makeup desk with matching mirror and hair driers. (sorry ladies a bit low but close to the truth) :p
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oooo spug that was low, train tickets cancelled now!!!!!! ha ha ;)
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The first thing my sister does is push click flick all the switches and then worries if here face is on by checking in the rear view mirror. ;)
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GPS is more accurate enti but I think if my speedo was 5mph out I would be seeing the dealer and pronto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Another thing enti I bet you would not be willing to drive your car through a speed camera at 35 mph and risk a speedo error because having dealt with these sort of things I know you would very soon lose your licence.
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Bazf, eleven out of ten for that somes it up to a tee :D Now to duck as they dont get mad they get even :D
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PROBLEMS ...... tut !! You'll be thanking women when your all driving round in one of these beauties ;)
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Good picci Tinks, thanks for the advice Busman, we dont have cruise control though and I actually know what every button in my car does!
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Was that what slinks had here driving lesson in T??? :D
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Here's Slinkys |
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Money is the root of all evil so therefore women = evil
Busman does applying the handbrake not switch the cruise control off? I would have thought that putting the car in neutral would have been a good idea - engine might blow up though trying to achieve 75mph in neutral. I once drove an astra sri high car with cruise control. It let up hit the red line in 3rd gear by increasing the speed on the up button. Strange idea that the car will blow itself up :D |
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Not really thought about that one before, but if the driver of a car with CC on had a heart attack, would he/she not tend to slump forward against the steering wheel, thus making it impossible to try to steer the car from the passenger side. Would be the same as a driver with CC on falling asleep at the wheel, the car could go in any direction.
:eek: Went down to the midlands last week with a friend in his Jag, he used the CC and he's 60+ :eek: |
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The point I was trying to make was that the so-called switch to cancel the C.C. has no markings, is extremely small and virtually impossible to find even if you were looking for it, check out my photo again, it is the small strip to the Left of the rocker switch. Quote:
Applying the handbrake has NO affect on C.C. putting the car in neutral is about the only thing that a passenger can do - but even that would be difficult for a non driver that is panicking in the passenger seat "but if the driver of a car with CC on had a heart attack, would he/she not tend to slump forward against the steering wheel, thus making it impossible to try to steer the car from the passenger side." Quite probably neil - but if I was going to crash in those circumstances as a passenger,I would like to think that the cars speed would decrease somewhat before I left the motorway - not maintain the same speed. Quote:
I would have said the same grego - - but can you be sure that there is not an obscure hidden button somewhere on your car that you have not yet come across? :p |
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No one expects you to read all those pages but surely if their is something you are unsure of ie. the cruise control then a quick referal before using it would have been wise?
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I trust you were on the motorway?lol
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Unless you do a run through and identify all car controls with your passenger before setting off on a trip, the passenger would not know which switch to press. Don't think it would matter anyway, it would all be over in seconds, the closing speed of 2 cars on a motorway could be in excess of 140mph, and on a normal road 100mph, there would be no time for the passenger to think.It would be down to how good the seat belts and air bags performed.
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No pilkybusdriver I was nottonthe motorway that night, and I don,t drive a Reliant. My car is fitted with a cruise control which i use on a regular basis. All I am saying is before using something you are not 100 sure about henreading the instuctions would be a good idea, I was joking a little re the 75mph. and I commend you for your thoughts on what Willow would do if suddenly you collapsed at the wheel. BUT, all I am saying is this should have been done before the horse left the stable.....................I instructed my wife how to disengage the cruise control from the passenger seat a nd how to slow the car down using the Tiptronic gearbox (NOT FITTED IN RELIANTS.)
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I think Fireman is totally missing the point on this. Yes a driver may well read his manual but how many times have you been given a lift in somebody else's car? Did you read the manual before accepting the ride? Did you know what every switch in their car did? It's not a case of the driver being able to find the switch (which in this case is neither a switch nor a button) but of the passenger in the next seat being able to switch off cruise control in an emergency.
Maybe it could be argued that cruise control itself is dangerous and should be scrapped. Yes, if the driver slumped forward onto the wheel it would be nigh on impossible to steer anyway but at least if the car were slowing down you would have a better chance of survival than one continuing on at the same speed. BTW many other cars pass us on the motorway when we are keeping to the 70-75 speed range. There are also times when somebody pootling along at 20mph can cause problems. |
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i THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND IN THE CAR NOT WHEN ONE ACCEPTS A LIFT FROM OTHERS, SORRY IF YOU THINK I MISSED THE PIONT BUT I ASSURE YOU I DIDN,T. YES I TOO THINK THAT CRUISE CAN BE A DANGEROUS THING AND I AM SURPRISED THAT MANUFACTURERS GET AWAY WITH FITTING IT WITHOUT A FAILSAFE DEVICE IE A PESSURE SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH WOULD DISENGAGE CRUISE WHEN THE DRIVER TAKES HIS HANDS OFF IT. and no i'm not shouting i had just typed too much of this to switch off my caps lock and re type. Also if the driver is wearing a seat belt then slumping over the wheel would be unlikely. I already said that the reference to being 5mph over the limit was a quip but it seems to be praying on your mind. Yes people do travel at way over the limit on motorways and, as Neil said it would change the attitude of drivers if they had had to scrape people fromunder a wagon wheel arch or sweep the remains of someones beloved child into a bag and rinse the rest down the guttering. I don't want to be argumentative I was just giving a piont of view and already admitted to a small joke at Pilkybuses' expence I have made my piont and really do not want to continue to bring back some dire memories of my experiences. Thankyou.
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Nice one Neil.
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I was trying to point out that it isn't the driver (whether he has read the manual or not) who is the one who is ever going to need to use that switch because he can reach the other things that knock the CC off. It's the passenger who can only reach that switch and passengers do not read manuals. Would you think of pointing it out to anyone in your passenger seat? Maybe we would now, having thiught about it, but I have to admit it had never crossed my mind before to say "Oh, and by the way this is the CC release switch if I have a heart attack while we're going down the motorway" We remarked this morning that some people who do not drive aren't even aware of the existence of such a thing as cruise control. |
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Fireman, When I have my GPS connected I too use that instead of teh speedo as I know it to be far more accurate. With the Sat Nav system as well I can plan my cornering far more accurately as I know exactly where the road goes round the next bend even if I cannot see it through the windscreen. It is an AID to safer driving. It allows me to plan far further ahead than by just looking out the wndow. It also removes that nerveousness when driving in unfamiliar roads as I know that even if I take a wrong turn it will still get me to where I want to go.
Even without the GPS I am happy to go through speed cameras at indicated 33, I regularly overtake police range rovers at an indicated 80 on the motorway. In fact in converstaions I have had with Taffic Pol they have all told me that as long as I am showing good driving skills with consideration to other road users and awareness of what is happening around me they are unlikely to stop me unless I am doing over 85 mph. They are far more interested in pulling the nutters who tailgate at 60 or sit in the middle lane when they should move over. As for cruise control, what would be the difference between me slumping over the wheel with CC on or slumping over the wheel of my automatic volvo with my foot flat to the floor? I would rather Julie hit something at the 75 I set it at than the 155 my Volvo will do if I was to slump with my foot to the floor. |
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I did along reply and then a power cut wiped it. I dont want to argue about this I put my piont, either accept it or shun it I aint that bothered.All I know is that I set my cararvan generator goin for lights whist the power cut was on and some bast-rd has had it away with it I can not believe the scum that walk the streets these days I am so pi--ed off I copuld scream the low life fecking sh-t bast-rds .
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My sympathies regarding the theft of your generator. It doesn't surprise me any more what people will help themselves to. We've had some really petty thefts at the caravan site this summer, down to things like a bar of soap. Whatever they steal my opinion of them is the same.
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We used this at our caravan it cost nearly £1.000. and I can't believe someone would have the ordasity to, under the cloak of darkness unplug the lead and help themselves to it. And I cant believe I stood their across the road talking to neighbours saying. " That should not have run out of fuel already I only filled it up the other day, and that gives me at least 4 hours" we then continued to laugh and joke and drink not realising some bas--rd was off on his way with the generator. Is nothing sacred these days?
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The nerve of them!
Maybe it's the same people who helped themselves to the electrics and jockey wheel from our trailer. |
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A very good point. And why on earth is it considered a selling point? Perhaps there is the occasional need for a sudden burst of speed in some situations.
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There have been many a situation on my daily commute I have been in where I have needed to get out of the way of someone doing something stupid through either being half asleep or just driving like a nutter. Having plenty of reserve is what makes it safer. Likewise cars that are capable of higher speeds are equipped with better brakes, suspension etc and will stop faster(and hence safer) than a car that has only adequate brakes. Also there is no limit on how fast you can accelerate. the power needed to do this also has the knack of giving more top speed as well. On my bike I enjoy the acceleration far more than outright speed. 150mph is boring, any idiot could do it with a straight road. Getting a bike down a twisty lane at 70(%Cough%) is far more fun. There are also plenty of track days where owners of fast cars can go and put their cars through their paces.
Let me put another analogy to you. I reckon 99% of people who use this forum have PCs with processors over 1 Gig. Yet I bet 90% of people could happily get away with a p3-500 with no real difference in how it performs for what they use it for. Should Intel and AMD have been told to stop developing at 1Gig? Who really needs 1 gig RAM? unless you are into real top end gaming or rendering full res DVDs then you quite simply don't. At work I use a P3 1 gig with 512 RAM. This is for full J2EE development, Application Server builds and Message broker flow designing. These are all quite demanding yet my work PC copes quite admirably. |
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We have three things in common. We are both aggravated by kids that are taken a couple of hundred yards to school in 4x4's. Secondly, I too am mystified why cars are built that go above the fastest legal speed limit? Thirdly, we both love Romps.;) |
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Having a faster processor does not allow you break the law ( well it could depending on what your downloading :) ).
Hand guns were legal but it was illegal to shoot people. The police could not stop people shooting each other so they banned hand guns. The police can't stop people speeding so why not limit cars? Trucks are limited and I don't hear truck drivers saying they have accidents because of it. |
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lmfao thank the lord i don't drive or have a girlfreind. cause either way i would worry
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dont know if this has been said before, but (especially on a vectra, if it is owt like mine used to be), you can also decrease the speed using the same bit on the lever as you use to set the speed.
Dont think that makes sense.... |
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Then again I had a works hire car a few years ago, it was at Astra SRi, that thing was stupid, you could engage cruise in 2nd gear and keep pressing the button for increase speed until the revs hit the red line. A piece of advice, don't buy and ex hire car :D Oh yes and don't ever buy a Vauxhall Meriva, horrible car, one of the worst I have ever driven. |
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cruise control is highly over rated anyway
i set mine to 70mph on the motorway and jumped into the back seat for a nap the bloody car was veering all over the place to the extent that i had to jump back into the front and resume manual control :mad: |
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lol you read that story about the guy in his motor home getting 1 million dollars becaus he left the wheel to make some tea or somthing as well then eh ? |
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its an urban legend ;) Quote:
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oh before i forget hiya blazey hiya andrew b :D |
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Just a thought here, does the handbrake not knock it off, most have a warning light now on the dash when its on or just pulled up a notch, haven't tried it but will do when I'm in the car tomorrow, my controls are on the steering wheel anyway so are accessible to passengers but I have had cars where they are tucked down the right hand side away from passenger access
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Might have a play with my cruise control tomorrow, never used it yet :rolleyes:
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I would't cope with a gadget like that - don't even use a car radio.
I am used to bog standard motors. I confess that I drove my little Seat for 4 weeks before discovering I had a 5th gear:o never had one before that |
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I need a 6th gear!!! Kept going for 6th when I had my pug, it didnt work though |
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The number of gears doesn't matter, its the ratios that count. There was a Honda 50cc that raced that had something like 12 gears, it had sucjh a small power band that this was the only way to get it up to speed.
One thing I never really understood was why overdrives were not continued apart from on auto's. They are a brilliant way of increasing MPG, offering a sporty close ratio box experience. |
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Air con, open windows, carrying loads of crap in your boot all are bad when it comes to fuel economy. regular servicing also helps a lot |
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Servicing does make a difference entwisi, the vans at work lose economy if they are not serviced regularly, monday morning ritual for us is oil, water and tyre pressures, and report of any faults, it is expensive to keep on top of, but cheaper than the consequences of ignorance, cruise control (as this is what the thread is about) is the most economical way to travel distances, but you should make passengers aware of how to deactivate it, and I for one applaud busman for having the consideration for his dear wife to explain it to willow.
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I would disagree that Cruise is teh most economincal though. The cars tend to 'over' accelerate to keep the speed, also going up hill you can let a car drop 5 or so mph without any loss in time but a considerable saving on fuel, Cruise will keep teh speed irrespective of how hard it has to accelerate.
I remember a friend and I driving to see my Sister in Nice on teh cheap. We used to drive in bare feet as it was amazing just how much extra 'feel' it gave you on how much you were using the accelerator(although free wheeling with teh engine switched off down teh alps maybe wasn't that good an idea especially when you get pulled for speeding through a tiny village but thats another story! :D ) Actually people like BUsman can be a godsend to fuel economy! Sitting in the slipstream of a coach/wagon saves a load!!!!! :D |
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Well I have to agree with what both Derek and Entwisi have just said, if you look after your motor and don't abuse it, its to your own advantage. It certainly applies to work vehicles, when I was on the road, I travelled the length and breadth of the country and your vehicle was a valuable part of a three man team, if your motor breaks down your stuffed
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Had a few cars with cruise, can’t say I ever felt comfy using it. Given the option I would bin it.
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You will be used to being that close as a mad biker :p |
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mad? Maybe... Biker yes!
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I have “cruise control”.
It’s called my right foot and my brain. |
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heh I've been on teh bike for a few days and done some testing( I can 'feel' when I'm in teh slipstream better)
behind a transit, turbulence starts about 25-30 feet behind teh van. closer than 25ft and I was definately in the quiet zone and could roll off the throttle and still maintain teh same speed. behind a car( all except MPVs) there was negilgable slipstream up to 10 foot, i didn't want to go closer than that :D behind a coach the 'bad zone' was about 35-40 foot back, anywhere closer was definately quiet and clean air. |
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I would expect to would need to be closer to something smaller. I would also expect you to be a lot closer in a car like I said before, way to close for comfort. |
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you clearly aren't comitted to teh cause or you would have tried it yourself :D
tbh people forget that on a bike we can move to teh side and go down teh side between two lines of cars quite easily. we might sit close on your tail but its usually on teh back quarter so its only a quick wiggle and theres nowt in front of us. :D |
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Having just had a go in a car with cruise control I found it a bit worrying about taking foot off both pedals but after a while got used to it. Would only use it on long motorway runs though and would consider it helpful if doing regular long distance runs on the motorways. :dflam:
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I used to be an idiot, I got better and am now quite a chilled out driver. |
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"If you can read this your to bloody close":D:p |
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