Philadelphia Car Accident Attorney Suggests That You Never Use Cruise Control In the Rain
As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney, I have handled thousands of car accident cases involving simple negligence as well as automobile product liability defects. I have dealt with just about every conceivable type of expert there is when it comes to car accidents and the one thing that I have learned over the years is that one should never drive in the rain with your cruise control on. Although you may think that it is cautious and a way to avoid speeding tickets by driving with cruise control on, a common situation is that your car can hydroplane and tires will lose contact with the pavement and the car will accelerate at a high rate of speed making it take off like an airplane.
Last year traveling on a slick Atlantic City Expressway, I made the mistake of traveling with cruise control on and my car hydroplaned and ended up going off the road into a ditch causing extensive property damage and minor injuries. I was very lucky. However, many times others are not so lucky. More importantly, some vehicles will not even allow you to set cruise control when the windshield wipers are on. Although many people claim that it is a hoax that you should not use cruise control in the rain, the National Safety Commission issued an article on March 3, 2009 titled Hazards of Driving in the Rain with Cruise Control. Take it from me as an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney, the safest thing to do when it rains is to disengage cruise control and lower your speed. Driving in the rain requires heightened awareness and ability to react in a second’s notice.
