TRANSPORTATION MATTERS for IOWA

Message Monday - Winter driving: if you cruise, you lose control


1-21 message mondayTake control of your vehicle on wet or icy roads. While cruise control is a great tool on dry pavement when you want to maintain a constant speed, did you know that setting the cruise on icy roads could actually cause you to lose control of your vehicle?

Icy or wet roads cause your vehicle's tires to lose contact with the pavement. When this happens, the best way to maintain control is to take your foot off the gas to slow your vehicle down until your tires can make contact with the pavement again. Cruise control is designed to keep your vehicle going at a constant speed. When it is on and your car starts to slide, instead of slowing down your car continues to accelerate giving you little or no control over where your vehicle ends up.

How do control your vehicle if it starts to skid on ice? https://youtu.be/cTryHt7lpws

There have been nine fatalities reported in 2019. The 2018 fatality count stands at 318. This is subject to change as law enforcement reports are completed. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf

 

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Working...
Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been posted. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Working...

Have a comment?



NOT FINDING WHAT YOU NEED? WE CAN HELP.

©  Iowa Department of Transportation.  All rights reserved.