Question

Difficulty: MediumSkidding Causes and Prevention

Using cruise control on wet, icy, or snow-covered roads helps prevent skidding by maintaining a constant throttle and steady road speed.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False: Cruise control increases skid risk on slippery roads because automated throttle application can induce wheelspin when traction is compromised.
Cruise control must be switched off in wet, icy, or snow-covered conditions. When tyres encounter standing water or ice, cruise control continues to apply throttle to maintain the target speed, which causes the drive wheels to spin freely and provokes a loss of directional control.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze how cruise control operates on low-grip road surfaces
Determine that cruise control maintains preset speed by adjusting engine throttle automatically without sensing surface grip limits.
Crucial for understanding how automatic driver aids behave when surface friction suddenly drops.
2
Evaluate the effect of automated throttle input during loss of tyre traction
Identify that if drive wheels encounter standing water, ice, or snow, continuous throttle application causes wheelspin and triggers an immediate skid.
Demonstrates why manual throttle control and sensitivity are vital for skid prevention in hazardous weather.

Key Concept

Skid hazards associated with cruise control usage in adverse road and weather conditions
Estimated Time:45s
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