posted 11-25-2002 11:50 AM         

This was passed on to me by a friend - I wanted to share this with you
just in case you didn't know this fact.

I had a wreck a couple of weeks ago and totaled our Lincoln Town Car. I
hydroplaned on Hwy 135 between Gladewater & Kilgore, Texas. I was not
hurt, just emotionally rattled! I know the Lord was with me.

I learned a lesson I'd like to pass on to you. You may know this
already--but the highway patrolman told me that you should NEVER drive
in the rain with your cruise control on. He said if you did and
hydroplaned (which I did) that when your tires were off the road your
car would accelerate to a high rate of speed (which it did). You don't
have much, if any control when you hydroplane, but you are totally in
the hands of God when the car accelerates. I took off like I was in an
airplane. I'm so thankful I made it through that ordeal. Please pass
the word around about not using cruise control when the pavement is wet
or icy. The highway patrolman said this should be on the sun-visor with
the warning about air-bags.

The only person I've found out who knew this (besides the patrolman)
was a man who had a similar accident and totaled his car. This has made
me wonder if this is not why so many of our young people are dying in
accidents.

Be careful out there!

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Current mods: Mopar dual exhaust & front mudflaps; MacMotorsports Air Intake;
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tire valve-stem covers; Painted rear bumper lettering; Prowler Pro Gears; Synthetic
Oil; Raybestos Ceramic Brake Pads; TGF Door Panel Inserts & Headrest Covers;
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Removal / Relocation of Front Turn Signal Lights; and in-progress: Powder Coating
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It's yet another internet joke. Good rule of thumb is when you get an email that is forwarded and passed on from 1 or a number of people, it's usually a scam.

Take this one on face value.

1) What is the difference between having your foot on the gas doing 60 or the CC doing 60?

2) If in either of the above, your car starts hydroplaning, what would most do? Hit the brakes (or start pumping them) Doesn't this disengage the CC?

3) If your car was hydroplaning, the wheel would be spinning freely (ie. able to spin faster) so the CC would slow it down to what it thought was 60.

posted 11-25-2002 03:01 PM         

With the cruise on the car's drive wheels will continue to turn, possibly causing the car to spin. If you hit the same slick spot without cruise on and simply let your foot off the gas you have a much better chance of keeping the car under control and pointed in the correct direction.

quote:

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Originally posted by Marty Usher:
Internet joke? Maybe it needn't be listed on the sun visor warning but I can tell you if you hit an icy bridge or overpass with cruise control on you are much more likely to spin the car because your first reaction is to take your foot off the gas pedal. Driving instructors will tell you NOT to hit the brakes when your car goes in to a skid on slippery roads because you are more likely to lose control.

Right. which is why I said "pump" the brakes. Which would disengage the cruise control. Although some might be tempted (although wrong) to hit the brakes hard which also would disengge the cruise control.

With the cruise on the car's drive wheels will continue to turn, possibly causing the car to spin.

Yes, but now the wheel(s) are spinning freely, hence there is less friction so they would be going faster. Wouldn't this make the cruise control shut down til the car got back to it's posted limit? Makes sense to me.

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posted 11-26-2002 09:50 AM         

quote:

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Originally posted by YellowFever:
Pumkin,

It's yet another internet joke. . . . . . .

. . . . . I have no idea why people waste their time creating these, "The sky is falling" emails other then to try to create panic amongst the masses. Guess, like ones creating viruses, they have no life......

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I guess the folks at DaimlerChrysler Corporation don't think it is a joke!

On page 60 of the 2000 Owner's Manual it states:

WARNING!
Speed Control can be dangerous where the system can't maintain a constant speed. Your vehicle could go too fast for the conditions, and you could lose control. An accident could be the result. Don't use Speed Control in heavy traffic or on roads that are winding, icy, snow-covered, or slippery.

Thought you might like to know. . .

------------------

Current mods: Mopar dual exhaust & front mudflaps; MacMotorsports Air Intake;
Real Rod Air Patrol; Graphics by Balistek Designs; ($8) Chrome grille; Chrome
tire valve-stem covers; Painted rear bumper lettering; Prowler Pro Gears; Synthetic
Oil; Raybestos Ceramic Brake Pads; TGF Door Panel Inserts & Headrest Covers;
SheepskinExpress Sheepskin Seatcovers; Grille Light; Pinstriping by Bo Boring;
Painted Valve Cover; Window Tinting; Windshield Visor Banner; Front Bumper
Removal / Relocation of Front Turn Signal Lights; and in-progress: Powder Coating
Parts under the hood.
More 'Pumpkin' photos . . . . . More cars and other stuff