Question

Difficulty: EasyDriving in Adverse Weather and Low Visibility

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

Answer: Answer

Answer

The statement is false. Drivers should never activate cruise control when operating a vehicle on wet, icy, or snow-covered roads.
The statement is false because activating cruise control on slippery surfaces like ice or snow compromises safety. If the drive wheels lose traction, the cruise control feature will attempt to maintain the set speed by applying engine power, causing the wheels to spin rapidly and leading to severe loss of control or skidding.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the proposed driving behavior under adverse winter road conditions.
The statement suggests engaging cruise control on snow or ice to maintain speed stability.
Safe vehicle control requires evaluating how driver assistance features react on reduced-friction surfaces.
2
Evaluate the mechanical response of cruise control when traction is lost.
If tires lose grip on ice or snow, the cruise control system detects a drop in speed and responds by applying throttle, causing the tires to spin faster and lose remaining traction.
Automatic throttle application on slick surfaces prevents the tires from regaining grip and can spin the vehicle into a skid.
3
Determine the proper driver action for adverse weather.
Turn cruise control off and maintain manual control over gas and brake pedals to respond instantly to road feedback.
Direct driver control allows immediate deceleration when reduced traction or hazardous road conditions are encountered.

Key Concept

Cruise control restriction in low-traction weather conditions
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