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Do you like to CRUISE in the RAIN?

By
Real Estate Agent with Signature Realty Associates

I wonder how many people know about this? 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 & Kilgore. It was raining, though not excessively, when her car suddenly began to hydro-plane 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 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 when your car begins to hydro-plane and your tires lose contact with the pavement, your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed making you take off like an airplane. She told the patrolman that was exactly what had occurred.

The patrolman said this warning should be listed, on the driver's 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 control 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 had a similar accident, totaled his car and sustained severe injuries.

If you send this to 15 people and only one of them doesn't know about this, then it was all worth it. You might have saved a life.

NOTE: Some vehicles (like the Toyota Sienna Limited XLE) will not allow you to set the cruise control when the windshield wipers are on.

***This was received via email.  I checked it out on Snopes and it's true!  I have no idea who the author is but felt it was important to share!

Posted by

Make it a GREAT DAY! ☼

Susie Roscoe

Brandon, FL

Comments(14)

Mana Tulberg
805 County Real Estate - Camarillo, CA
Real Estate Agent - Camarillo CA
Susie, Great information to share. Thank you.
Sep 17, 2007 08:30 AM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
Susie, no I didn't know this. Imagine a useful email letter !!
Sep 17, 2007 08:38 AM
Susie Roscoe
Signature Realty Associates - Brandon, FL
Real Estate Specialist | Brandon, FL
Mana - I thought so!!
Sep 17, 2007 09:23 AM
Susie Roscoe
Signature Realty Associates - Brandon, FL
Real Estate Specialist | Brandon, FL
No Kidding Missy!  It's kind of nice when you receive something USEFUL via email vs. all the jokes and stuff!
Sep 17, 2007 09:24 AM
Suzanne Sands
Pavao Real Estate - Somerset, MA
Somerset MA Real Estate

Hi Susie,

Wow, I never knew about this, hydro-planing is pretty scary! I agree, good information to share! :)

Sep 17, 2007 09:29 AM
Susie Roscoe
Signature Realty Associates - Brandon, FL
Real Estate Specialist | Brandon, FL
Suzanne - Yeah, being out of control tends to do just THAT!!  I  had no idea and I tend to use the cruise control to prevent speeding in certain areas.
Sep 17, 2007 09:48 AM
Joanne Hanson
Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Frisco, CO
Summit County, Colorado Realtor
What a great day to share it Susie...it is raining today!  However, I never use my cruise control, although my husband does and I will pass it on to him.  Thanks for the info.
Sep 17, 2007 09:49 AM
Paula Henry
Home to Indy Team @ HomeSmart Realty Group - Avon, IN
Realtor - Indianapolis Real Estate - 317-605-4174
Susie - Thanks for some excelent advice to pass along!
Sep 17, 2007 11:12 AM
No Longer Active
Real Estate - Fallon, MT
Susie... Good information to help save people....  Especially with the storms you get down south.  I've driven to Florida a few times and noticed especially going thru the Carolina's during a heavy thunderstorm there were cars all over the place....  Reminded me of the what the highways look like up here with the first little snow or ice of the season..
Sep 17, 2007 11:37 AM
Kim Murphy
Draper and Kramer - Lombard, IL
Mortgage Loans in DuPage, Kane, Cook, Lake, Will C
Susie, WOW!  I dint know this!  I usually don't use my cruise control, in our area it is pointless... On, Off, On, Off, On, Off...  But when I am pulling the camper on the highway I do tend to use it, or long trips,  Good information to know!
Sep 17, 2007 11:59 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE
That's great info and really should be put on the visor as a warning. I will pass this on to others.
Sep 17, 2007 12:26 PM
Thesa Chambers
West + Main - Bend, OR
Principal Broker - Licensed in Oregon
I don't know if I set my cruise in the rain - but I know on Ice I find that I require much more control of the vehicle than cruise allows - great info to pass on thanks for sharing
Sep 17, 2007 06:34 PM
Sandra Cummings
William Raveis Real Estate - Guilford, CT
Real Estate Agent, Guilford Connecticut
Susie - This is very  helpful information - thanks for posting this. I will pass it on.
Sep 18, 2007 11:55 AM
Armando Rodriguez
QUEST REALTY SERVICES - Orlando, FL
Orlando Homes 4 Sale, Real Estate Broker-GRI

Great post - thank you for sharing it with the Active Rain community.

Keep'em coming!

Sep 18, 2007 12:41 PM