Question

Difficulty: EasyWinter Driving, Snow, and Black Ice

Activating cruise control while driving on icy or snow-covered roadways is recommended because it helps maintain a constant speed and prevents wheel slippage.

Answer: Answer

Answer

The statement is false. Cruise control should be turned off on slippery road surfaces such as snow and ice.
The correct answer is that the statement is false because drivers must retain total manual control over speed and braking in slippery conditions; cruise control can unexpectedly increase engine power during traction loss and cause a spinout.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Assess how cruise control functions when a drive wheel loses traction on ice or snow.
The system senses a momentary reduction in vehicle speed and automatically applies more gas to compensate.
Cruise control is designed to maintain constant target speed regardless of road resistance.
2
Determine the safety impact of automatic throttle application on slippery roads.
Applying extra power while tires lack grip causes the wheels to spin out, triggering a dangerous skid.
Full manual driver control of the accelerator is required to gently manage speed and immediately react to traction changes.

Key Concept

Dangers of Cruise Control on Winter Road Surfaces
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