How to use cruise control safety

[pb82gh3]

My 2015 Jazz SI Mk2 manual has cruise control. I've never driven a car with cruise control before and haven't dared try it in the Jazz yet. Any tips on how to manage my concerns, particularly regarding using it safely will be appreciated.

[applicationcen]

I find I use it de-facto all the time from 30 mile limits all the way up.

It certainly saves me fuel.

On Motorways - Adjusting to a synchronised speed with the car in front becomes frustrating as a number of people will over take then slow right down. Thats when you really need to put the boot down and get them behind you and allow the cruise mellow the car back to a steady state once the norbert is behind you.

There are times when the gear down change on hills happens too slowly and the car slows down - in those instances knock it down a few cogs as you approach the foot of the incline and then return to auto on the crest.

I genuinely think they improve safety. In my case as i am less inclined to speed and fidget with the go pedle -  which save mpg.

[peteo48]

There are some good tips in the manual but people vary as to how they use it. I don't use it in heavy traffic or in really wet conditions.

In fact my pattern of driving doesn't allow for much use of cruise at all but I genuinely wouldn't be without it for those occasional longer journeys where the old right leg can start to get cramped up a bit. I think the important thing is to maintain concentration. It's easy to knock it off if you need to.

[culzean]

Remember you can adjust speed up and down on the fly in 1 MPH increments by tapping 'RES accel' for +1 and 'SET decel' for -1 , each tap is 1mph    This helps adjust car speed to traffic.

But on todays crowded roads cruise control is becoming less useful because people cut in and out so much (ever watched a lane perfectionist on the motorway repeatedly cutting from centre lane back into inside lane and then back out again a few hundred metres later and causing centre lane cars to slow down to let them back in, IMHO if you are in centre lane going faster than traffic in inside lane there is absolutely no reason to pull into inside lane),  in fact I always pull into centre lane approaching junctions to allow oncoming traffic free access,  whereas the lane perfectionist will stay in inside lane and cause problems.

I forgot to mention the dreaded lorry drivers who seem to play a game who can get the longest queue behind them by pulling into centre lane on motorway and overtaking lorry in front at about 0.05MPH (takes them at least one or two miles to get past) only to cut back in and stay same distance in front of lorry they just overtook 

[plasma]

Remember you can adjust speed up and down on the fly in 1 MPH increments by tapping 'RES accel' for +1 and 'SET decel' for -1 , each tap is 1mph    This helps adjust car speed to traffic.

But on todays crowded roads cruise control is becoming less useful because people cut in and out so much (ever watched a lane perfectionist on the motorway repeatedly cutting from centre lane back into inside lane and then back out again a few hundred metres later and causing centre lane cars to slow down to let them back in, IMHO if you are in centre lane going faster than traffic in inside lane there is absolutely no reason to pull into inside lane),  in fact I always pull into centre lane approaching junctions to allow oncoming traffic free access,  whereas the lane perfectionist will stay in inside lane and cause problems.

+1,thats what I allways do,how ever good post.

Plasma.

[Jazzdriver]

Of course, if you set it at 70 mph and fall asleep you will crash at 70 mph.   

It is handy in contraflows or motorway roadworks with speed limits.  You can set it to the desired speed and ignore the idiots who breathe down your neck (assuming that you cannot change lanes), saving points on your licence.  You can drive with your foot over the brake pedal.

[pb82gh3]

Thanks for all the useful tips. I've now tried cruise control in various conditions and built up confidence about when to cancel it. Having been caught doing 39 mph at the end of a 30 going into 40 6 months ago, and doing a speed awareness course, I've found it most useful as a means of keeping to the speed limit on open roads.  What it's no good for of course is sticking to the widespread ludicrous 20 mph limits across my town.

[applicationcen]

Thanks for all the useful tips. I've now tried cruise control in various conditions and built up confidence about when to cancel it. Having been caught doing 39 mph at the end of a 30 going into 40 6 months ago, and doing a speed awareness course, I've found it most useful as a means of keeping to the speed limit on open roads.  What it's no good for of course is sticking to the widespread ludicrous 20 mph limits across my town.

I got caught in my jazz 37 in a 30! I do wish the cruise would engage at low speed

[pb82gh3]

Cruise Control can be used for 30 mph limits
The handbook says
You cannot set or resume in the following situations: • When vehicle speed is less than 25 mph (40 km/h) • When the CRUISE button is turned off
At vehicle speeds of 22 mph (35 km/h) or less, cruise  control is canceled automatically.

Of course the chances of prolonged cruise control use in a 30 are usually less than on open/faster roads. I have only very occasionally used in a 30, on a v. quiet day, in fact the very kind of day they caught me 6 months ago in my old car. Sadly the old times when they exercised some discretion are long gone. Nowadays we are just cash cows.

[guest5079]

Cruise control is certainly useful in situations whereby there is a fixed limit such as roadworks. I say fixed because everybody should be complying with the speed limit. The A30 is at the moment being converted to dual carriageway on Bodmin Moor. I frequently use my cruise control here but last time, Monday31st Oct I had the misfortune to overtake a Taxi ( in the 70 section) we got to the 40 section and who came past me? the Taxi who then proceeded to teach me a lesson by driving at between 25 and 30 mph. What the moron didn't realise by the time we were about a third of the way through he was creating the Dept of Transports stop start hold up ( they have a name for it) because the traffic builds up to the extent vehicles come to a stop. I could see this happening way back along the road. When we got to the 70 section, I accelerated up to 70, what did he do, off like a longdog well above the speed limit. What is it about the Honda Jazz? Is it jealousy? The Taxi was a Skoda.
Now back to speed limits, I went through a speed check at circa 75 plus. Sweated for a fortnight, nothing so I went on line and under the guidelines from the Association of Chief Police Officers it is given as 10% plus I think 3 miles an hour so in theory 30mph should be circa 35mph or in my case 70 speed limit 70 plus 10% = 77 plus 3 = 80. I have heard however that there is a tendency for 30and 40 limits to be strictly enforced.
I do know that I have to be very careful in 30 limits because my Jazz wants to get going, I suppose being an  I shift it feels that 30 in 6th gear is not acceptable. I don't know where 'the Jazz is sluggish' comes from.

[pb82gh3]

Those "allowable margins" above the speed limit are discretionary and should never be relied on. As for the taxi, that's so-called professionals for you

[John Ratsey]

I frequently use my cruise control here but last time, Monday31st Oct I had the misfortune to overtake a Taxi ( in the 70 section) we got to the 40 section and who came past me? the Taxi who then proceeded to teach me a lesson by driving at between 25 and 30 mph. What the moron didn't realise by the time we were about a third of the way through he was creating the Dept of Transports stop start hold up ( they have a name for it) because the traffic builds up to the extent vehicles come to a stop.

This is where a sat nav which displays speed using the GPS system (a smart phone with a suitable app will do the same) is very useful to calibrate the speedometer. We know that all manufacturers set the speedos to read high so they can't be blamed for any speeding tickets but how high is variable between manufacturers. In my experience the Jazz is less than 5% (ie 2 to 3 mph high at 30 mph) but I once had a Kia which I discovered to be about 10% high so going at what the car said was 70 mph was actually the low 60's (and going at the real 70 mph seemed to require a lot more effort). Perhaps the taxi had one of that type of speedometer?

[ColinS]

It's all quite simple really.  Go by your speedo, don't break the law and be a safer driver.  The speed limit is exactly that, a limit, not a goal.

[culzean]

Now back to speed limits, I went through a speed check at circa 75 plus. Sweated for a fortnight, nothing so I went on line and under the guidelines from the Association of Chief Police Officers it is given as 10% plus I think 3 miles an hour so in theory 30mph should be circa 35mph or in my case 70 speed limit 70 plus 10% = 77 plus 3 = 80. I have heard however that there is a tendency for 30and 40 limits to be strictly enforced.

30 and 40 limits are in built up area,  where cars are more likely to come into contact with children, cyclists, dogs and pedestrians.  Some Police area have zero tolerance on speed limits (ie 30 means 30 - in our area I know people who have been 'done' for 32mph in a 30 zone) - but I guess that if the Police prosecute exactly on the speed limit there can be endless challenges to the calibration of their equipment,  the accuracy of vehicle speedometer etc.  so for an easier life with a lot less chance of being challenged the police recommend a certain latitude (especially laser guns which can show a brick wall doing 15mph and have to hit a flat surface on a vehicle and stay on it for a certain length of time which is almost impossible to achieve - which is why they were discredited and don't get used anymore).   When I see the way people wizz around our estate (which has small children and dogs in abundance,  I have had people trying to overtake me when I slow down to 20 for the kifds playground  )  and also scoot around supermarket carparks etc. I wonder if certain driver have any judgment at all - and some of the worst offenders seem to have kids in their car - but I bet if a car hit their kid they would be asking for the death penalty for the driver  .

[JohnAlways]

100% agree Culzean