There’s an old wives’ tale in parts of Australia that it’s illegal to make use of cruise control in case you’re an L-plater.
- Learner drivers should learn all of the functions of their vehicle
- It mightn’t be advisable, however it’s not illegal for an L-plater to make use of cruise control
- So long as the driving force is obeying all the opposite rules, it’s superb
There’s no legal suggestion that’s the case. Actually, on the subject of driver safety and the security of all road users, it could possibly be seen as thing for learners to make use of cruise control.
Cruise control was designed essentially to make longer distance driving less fatiguing, with the upside being that a motorist would give you the option to get out at their destination without having broken any laws for speeding, and with a relaxed air about them because they wouldn’t have needed to do any pointless work with their right foot.
In modern cars, though, cruise control systems vary greatly, and with the continuing push for even-more autonomous vehicles that may speed up, brake, steer, park and – in case you consider Elon Musk – drive themselves entirely, the argument could possibly be made that L-platers aren’t learning to drive, slightly than to co-pilot a vehicle.
In case you’re not aware, there are several types of cruise control. Here’s a layman’s rundown.
Essentially the most common and most simple type will let you set a speed at which you would like to travel, and the automotive will maintain that pace (inside reason).
A more advanced sort of cruise control is adaptive or radar-based cruise control, which allows a driver to set a distance that they’d like to keep up between their very own automotive and the automotive ahead. If the vehicle in front slows down or brakes heavily, the next automotive should essentially mimic the motions of the lead automotive.
Now, there are differences between adaptive cruise control systems, including that some have what’s referred to as ‘traffic jam’ or ‘stop-and-go’ technology, which can essentially allow the automotive to come back to an entire stop after which restart with none intervention from the driving force.
Other versions require the driving force to hit a button on the steering wheel or tap the accelerator to recommence at the unique set speed (though, in traffic, the automotive will still judge what speed it should drive based on the pace of the vehicles ahead).
And there’s one more sort of adaptive cruise control that may – slightly unnervingly – cut out when the speed dips to a certain point. There’s nothing quite like finding yourself driving along a multi-lane road and counting on the automotive to keep up your speed and distance, just for it to choose that it doesn’t operate at speeds lower than 30km/h, as has happened to me before.
Other cruise control systems may even adapt their speed to the speed limit signs, just by hitting a button on the steering wheel. And there are even some that may mechanically adjust to the signposted speed limit for you, without an intervention (this is usually referred to as Intelligent Cruise Control).
And there are newer cars with cruise control systems which are linked to mapping data, and can alter the speed of the automotive based on where the map thinks you might be.
I’ve had certainly one of those fail, too – driving on the 80km/h speed limit in a tunnel in Sydney, the luxurious automotive I used to be in decided to think it was driving on the surface streets above, slamming on the brakes because the automotive “thought” it was in a 40km/h school zone.
Further, some recent vehicles could have unrefined “smart” cruise control systems that may slow the automotive down for corners or bends within the road, even when the signposted suggested speed limit is higher than the speed you’ve set.
And these apparently high-tech systems can still get it mistaken. I’ve been in cars which have indicated a speed limit on the driving force info screen of 110km/h, yet the actual limit on the residential street I used to be driving was 50km/h.
On the plus side for contemporary cruise control systems, many now offer a speed limiter that may allow the driving force to set a speed that they don’t need to exceed. For L-platers and P-platers alike, that could possibly be a terrific little bit of tech to make sure they don’t fall foul of the law.
Indeed, there are some scenarios that peak bodies suggest drivers shouldn’t use cruise control. The Royal Automobile Association of South Australia suggests that best practice can be to NOT use cruise control when the speed limit is 60km/h or under, when negotiating bends, or while you’re sleepy.
So, no, it’s not illegal for a learner driver to make use of cruise control. But it’ll be as much as that L-plater, and the person sitting alongside them – be that a parent, sibling, relative, or driving instructor – to be certain that it’s used appropriately, safely and smartly.
Not intended as legal advice. Check with the relevant roads authority in your state or territory.
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
