Technology has done amazing things for the world, but it is not always perfect. Although we would like to rely on the technology in our vehicles, there is no guarantee that it will work properly.
Cruise control is one of the best technological advancements made in cars and it is not going anywhere. Cruise control keeps advancing each year, and is a popular feature.
The technology was made in an attempt to limit the number of car crashes that occur each year in the United States. Although the car may be in cruise control, the driver should have control of the vehicle at all times.
Whether you are on a highway or a long road, the driver should always be paying attention to his or her surroundings. If you put your car in cruise control, you are still the one operating the vehicle. Furthermore, if an accident or collision occurs while your vehicle is in cruise control, you are still liable for the crash. If you were involved in an accident, reach out to an experienced Ocean City car accident lawyer today.
Many people use the cruise control to ensure that their vehicle does not surpass the speed limit. It is important that the driver is aware of the speed limit and only uses cruise control in rural areas with straight roads.
It is dangerous to put a vehicle in cruise control while driving on windy or narrow roads. Putting your car in cruise control in inappropriate areas can increase the driver’s chances of getting into an accident.
There are three different kinds of cruise control in a vehicle. The first is a speed limiter, along with adaptive cruise control and semi-autonomous cruise control. Adaptive cruise control is the most popular and commonly used form of cruise control as it uses sensors that surround the car’s exterior to gauge the speed of other vehicles in the area.
These sensors are also used to ensure that your vehicle stays an appropriate distance away from the vehicle ahead. It is important to know that adaptive cruise control should never be used in bad or inclimate weather conditions as it may affect the sensors.
There are a few guidelines to using cruise control appropriately: consider weather conditions in the area, build speed, engage the cruise control, set the cruise control, continue to watch the road and steer, and brake to disengage cruise control.
Cruise control should never be used in heavy traffic due to the constant need to stop and go. Before turning on cruise control, you need to ensure that there is no sign of traffic ahead. The same goes for engaging cruise control in cities. Cities have greater populations than rural areas and drivers are constantly stopping and turning. Braking constantly will disengage cruise control.
Putting your vehicle in cruise control does not mean you can lay back and close your eyes. The driver should also never be texting while the car is operating in cruise control as the driver is still the one responsible for driving the car.
Fatigued driving will also be taken into consideration if the tired driver was using cruise control at the time of the crash. Using cruise control at late hours of the night and while fatigued can make the driver even more tired as you give the vehicle more control.
One perk of using cruise control is that it may alleviate the stress of driving on highways at fast speeds. Many drivers also like to use cruise control because it can limit the number of times the driver needs to stop or slow down. It is also known to save an average of 8%-14% of gas.
Maryland is an at-fault state for car accidents which means that the driver who is liable or at fault for the accident can be sued by the victim. The victim may sue the at-fault driver for compensation if he or she is injured or the vehicle is damaged in any way. Even if cruise control was being used at the time of the accident, the driver is still at fault for the collision.
The circumstances of the accident will be reviewed by insurance companies and Aberdeen car accident attorneys as cruise control can play a factor in how and why there was a collision. You may be asked the following questions if you are involved in a car accident caused by cruise control: Where were you at the time of the accident? Why did you decide to put the vehicle in cruise control?
Were you on a highway or street when the accident occurred? Cruise control should never be used in an environment in which the driver would be stopping and going. An example of a place in which cruise control should not be used is a neighborhood or when approaching an intersection. You may also be asked your speed at the time of the collision and what speed the cruise control was set on.
If the driver was found to be using cruise control in an area that is not safe to do so, he or she could be charged with reckless driving and their behavior could be deemed as gross negligence. The same applies to texting and driving. Don’t forget that even if you engage in cruise control, you are still driving the vehicle.
It is possible that a driver’s liability is reduced if he or she was operating cruise control at an appropriate location and time. The speed of the vehicle will also be considered when determining whether or not the technology was used appropriately.
Cruise control is not always perfect. As mentioned before, technology has its flaws. Liability may also be reduced if the cruise control was found to be ineffective at the time of the accident.
If you or a loved one is involved in an accident in which you or another driver was using cruise control, contact a Baltimore car accident attorney at Rice, Murtha, and Psoras Trial Lawyers today. An attorney will be able to review the case along with any other evidence to help you move forward to receiving compensation for the accident.