IMPORTANT Safety Tip: A 36-year-old female had an accident several weeks
ago and totaled her car. A resident of Kilgore, Texas, she was traveling
between Gladewater and Kil gore. It was raining, though not excessive,
when her car suddenly began to hydroplane and literally flew through the
air.
She was not seriously injured but very stunned at the sudden occurrence.
When she explained to the highway patrolman what had happened he told
her
something that every driver should know - NEVER DRIVE IN THE RAIN WITH
YOUR CRUISE CONTROL ON.
She had thought she was being cautious by setting the cruise control and
maintaining a safe, consistent speed in the rain. But the highway
patrolman told her that if the cruise control is on and your car begins
to
hydroplane -- when your tires lose contact with the pavement -- your car
will accelerate at a higher rate of speed and you take off like an
airplane.
She told the patrolman that was exactly what had occurred.
We all know you have little or no control over a car when it begins to
hydroplane. You are at the mercy of the Good Lord. The highway patrol
estimated her car was actually traveling through the air at 10 to 15
miles
per hour faster than the speed set on the cruise control.
The patrolman said this warning should be listed on the drivers seat sun
visor - NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR
ICY -along with the airbag warning.
We tell our teenagers to set the cruise and drive a safe speed but we
don't tell them to use the cruise control only when the pavement is dry.
The only person the accident victim found, who knew this (besides the
patrolman), was a man who had a similar accident, totaled his car and
sustained severe injuries.
ago and totaled her car. A resident of Kilgore, Texas, she was traveling
between Gladewater and Kil gore. It was raining, though not excessive,
when her car suddenly began to hydroplane and literally flew through the
air.
She was not seriously injured but very stunned at the sudden occurrence.
When she explained to the highway patrolman what had happened he told
her
something that every driver should know - NEVER DRIVE IN THE RAIN WITH
YOUR CRUISE CONTROL ON.
She had thought she was being cautious by setting the cruise control and
maintaining a safe, consistent speed in the rain. But the highway
patrolman told her that if the cruise control is on and your car begins
to
hydroplane -- when your tires lose contact with the pavement -- your car
will accelerate at a higher rate of speed and you take off like an
airplane.
She told the patrolman that was exactly what had occurred.
We all know you have little or no control over a car when it begins to
hydroplane. You are at the mercy of the Good Lord. The highway patrol
estimated her car was actually traveling through the air at 10 to 15
miles
per hour faster than the speed set on the cruise control.
The patrolman said this warning should be listed on the drivers seat sun
visor - NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR
ICY -along with the airbag warning.
We tell our teenagers to set the cruise and drive a safe speed but we
don't tell them to use the cruise control only when the pavement is dry.
The only person the accident victim found, who knew this (besides the
patrolman), was a man who had a similar accident, totaled his car and
sustained severe injuries.
