Press releases

When cruising can mean less control

UK motorists are being urged to be wary of using cruise control in heavy traffic.

Breakdown service Autonational Rescue has warned against the “inappropriate and unsafe use” of the fingertip driving aid which can lead to a new type of road accident.

Although the UK has no plans to review the use of cruise control on UK vehicles, one European country is already revolting against its use.

Belgian motorists are the first to be banned from using the ultimate driving aid on some motorways and highways – risking fines of 1,400 Euros (up to £950) - after a spate of serious collisions in heavy traffic.

Said Ronan Hart, marketing manager of UK car breakdown service Autonational Rescue: “These are usually rear-end bumps which are closely linked to drivers using cruise control in place of their accelerators or even their brakes!

“But the incorrect use of this kind of driver aid is something we must all be wary of - especially if it can lead to this kind of accident.”

Cruise control has caught on fast in recent years, originally in executive cars, and now the technology is filtering down to mass produced vehicles.

It has always been popular where it began, in America, because roads there are generally straighter and destinations further apart.

Even in the US however, with traffic levels on the rise, basic cruise control is becoming less practical, though it’s unlikely to become obsolete.

Most likely, cruise control systems will become ‘more intelligent’ to cope with heavy traffic – equipping cars with ‘adaptive control’ to let them follow the car in front while adjusting speed regularly to maintain a safe distance.

Added Ronan Hart: “Cruise control is a useful driving aid when used in the right circumstances and we certainly don’t want to see ban introduced in the UK.

UK motorists who cause an accident when using cruise control badly may face prosecution through existing laws, such as dangerous driving.

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For more information about Autonational Rescue, the car breakdown service with the no claims bonus, call 07000 999 911
Issued by CPR Works
Tel: 01902 680068
Contact: Jenny Carr/Roger Eversley
E-mail:jenny@cpr.co.uk
Web: www.cpr.co.uk

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