Speed limiter 99% of my time driving, it good for controlling speed and allows you to concentrate on driving and dangers around you rather than watching the speedometer. On motorways on longer trips on quiet days I’ll use cruise control (ACC) but it has its flaws that can cause the car to brake suddenly.
@@daylen577 yes, there’s a ”bubble” at the bottom of the accelerator range once you press that the car overrides the speed limiter (and eco mode if enabled) once you’ve completed your overtake and returned to the speed set the limiter is reenabled.
Hi Ashley, two things to add. You can feather your speed by canceling and resetting the cruise control as you observe the traffic conditions ahead of you. Also if you calibrate your speedometer with gps you can set your cruise control to the true speed (for me in my daily it is 73 for 70, 62 for 60, 52 for 50, 42 for 40 and 32 for 30. What you will then find is that you are able to make better progress on motorways and dual carriageways. Single carriageway roads and built-up areas obviously have to be driven to suit, as you so excellently show in your videos. The cruise control acting as a safety net for any lapses. Love your videos. Keep up the excellent work. Merry Christmas and New Year to you and your family
I think for the purposes of this video he has to stick to the limits :) I always check my speedo with a GPS speed and it only reads around 1mph over throughout the range.
In some cars (e.g. Tesla) the attempt to "feather your speed" will spectacularly fail, as the car will interpret the cancellation of the cruise control as a request to slow down as much as possible, surprising both you and any drivers of cars behind you. It's important, particularly when driving an unfamiliar vehicle, to become fully accustomed to how the various controls respond before relying on them too heavily. Cruise control and limiter implementations can vary much more than you'd expect from one vehicle to another. In my own car, "cancel" and "resume" on the cruise control both respond with smooth changes of speed, so I use it a lot, but have learned that I can't rely on other cars responding the same way.
I always use cruise on longer journeys, and often use the + - speed controls like a hand throttle. My foot always covers the brake pedal. it works well also at slower speed limits. I don't think I will have a car without cruise again, makes a huge difference to your comfort (particularly in the legs) over multi-hour journeys.
Cruise control is a life changer lol I’ve been driving 11 years and only last year finally got a car with it. When you have to go on a 5 or 6 hour drive it’s so much easier with the cruise control on. I do what you do aswell, just use the + and - buttons to adjust to the flow of traffic
I think the speed limiter is one of the most underrated and useful features of modern cars. Especially on roadworks or temporary speed limit areas where you've got miles and miles of motorway that is has 50mph speed limit.
@Advanced Driving I guess it depends on the system, I can work my way from 20 to 70 and back or to any arbitrary speed without looking, on/off, whatever. Even if I did need to check, it is displayed next to the MPH readout I would have been fixated on anyway.
@@radishpea6615 If traffic conditions mean that you often can't maintain a constant 50, but you don't want to go over 50 during lighter traffic periods.
My 2009 Focus Titanium has cruise control and I use it alot! After watching this video I'm gonna follow your advice and only use it when its quiet as it does get me into some situations where I need to quickly flick it off to regain control and slow down. Glad you did this video!
It is an art to using the +/- adjusters for the cruising speed (Does the Focus Titanium have those? Other Fords have.) to adjust the setting, and does require planning quite far ahead.
Adaptive Cruise is the answer here, me thinks. Set a two or three second gap, and smack it on a comfortable speed. As you approach traffic, it will slow the car by coming off the gas until you're following 2-3 seconds behind. It uses a front-mounted radar to maintain this gap. A huge benefit in VWs is that adaptive cruise can engage full emergency ABS braking if needed. Computing the distance at the frequency it does, it all but eliminates 'thinking distance' - so in the worst scenario, you buy yourself that extra distance as you're only looking at the car's actual braking distance.
I find the issue with people that use adaptive cruise control, is they often set it in the middle lane and just switch off. When driving at night when the roads are really quiet I see loads of people driving in the middle lane for no reason, usually in modern cars. I often think this is because of the use of adaptive cruise control.
I don’t think ACC is always the answer, if you don’t predict soon enough (in heavier traffic) to merge out into the next lane the car will start to slow and make it more difficult to merge out into the next lane if needed. If I a car in the left lane is beginning to merge out ACC won’t predict this and will brake heavy when they enter the lane.
@@olii9062 It is an absolutely brilliant piece of tech. Unfortunately some people aren't the best at using it but don't let that put you off using it/buying a car with it. Does most of the things Ashley talked about with the limiter and backing off etc (pending you keep paying attention of course). Although the only big issue with it is when you come up behind a slow vehicle you will slow to its speed, meaning when you change lanes to overtake you have a lot of accelerating to do, where using your foot/normal cruise you would be maintaining that speed. - Again, a problem solved by being an attentive driver.
@@richardthegreat completely agree. But that’s why these systems are meant to be an added aid or extra tool in your tool box, not as a replacement for proper awareness and judgement
@@olii9062, that’s a little presumptuous. I use ACC all the time and find it actually simplifies lane changes and encourages better practices. When manoeuvring into the lane to my right, after indicating, the car will pre-empt accelerating, and will manage braking and maintain safe distances if I need to move over to a slower left lane to turn off. It’s a fantastic bit of tech that compliments safe & aware driving, and has nothing to do with lazy driving habits. Also as Hugh mentions above ACC, with the same VW system I use, it will also do a full emergency stop so can reduce reaction times.
THANK YOU ASHLEY! Honestly, you've explained my biggest problem with the limiter for me and why i don't use the limiter. Cruise control for me everytime, tap brake if sommat pops up, deal with it, back to cruisey
I never use cruise control or the limiter. I love being in full control when driving! Much more fun and learning experience as I’m a novice P plate driver. Great video as always Ashley
@@horrgakx Maybe in a vehicle with hand controlled throttle for a driver with disabilities, or if you're on 9 points and for some reason are unable to restrain yourself on the motorway, but they do nothing to increase safety.
@@crunch8484 I disagree, if I have my limiter on i don't have to look at the dash or focus on my speed. I can pay my attention to the road ahead instead of constantly looking at M25 variable limits.
@@crunch8484 I use cruise control on longer highway trips. Its just nice And also i cant speed anymore since i got my first speeding ticket and as a new driver in my country. The second time will have high chances of losing my licence
@@aquatics117 With variable limits, doesn't that mean you keep needing to adjust the limiter anyway? As for looking at the dash, it's only a quick, occasional glance, as you should be constantly looking around you, in your mirrors, at other vehicles, junctions etc anyway. It partly comes down to experience of course, but after a while, like any skill you actively practice regularly, you learn to judge your speed by the engine note, accelerator resistance etc.
I had a limiter on my previous car and used it all the time, in everything from 20 - 70 zones. It's great to be able to set and forget... thereby keeping eyes on the road rather than flicking down to check the speedometer all the time. My current car only has cruse control, and whilst this is good on quiet main roads and motorways its a much less useful feature for everyday driving. If I could only pick one I'd definitely go with the limiter.
It bugs me when a car has one but not the other. Simply fitting both at the factory would cost pennies, but I guess it's a simple way to have people parting with more cash when speccing a new car. And for some reason on recent Hondas, the cruise is a hidden secondary function of the limiter. Therefore there's no visible button for cruise and you might think your vehicle doesn't have it when it actually does. My car (not a Honda) has limit but no cruise. The car supports cruise and it was a manufacturer option the previous owner didn't go for - I just have to pay the main dealer £250 for a replacement switch and a software update.
I use cruise regularly, but living in rural area the roads are quieter. I try and gauge space around me and rarely have to cancel it unless it gets really busy, when I would cancel the cruise anyway. Don't have limiter on this car, but did on the previous one and used it once on demo drive. We have a hybrid now, so I'm always trying to keep it in electric mode in built up areas which more often than not means I'm well within the speed limit. Only found the channel during lockdown, but love the content and have learnt so much from you Ashley, so thanks for that. Seasons greetings to you and your family and all the viewers. Stay safe
I almost exclusively use limiter. I rest my foot on gas pedal and when I need to move above just push down as you said. With CC I noticed it was easier to get into more dangerous situations (wait too long with braking or being less engaged with driving). Plus I don’t have to worry about speed limits or accelerating and decelerating all the time when I can’t find the perfect position for pedal.
This almost the same for me. I travel the M55 and M6 daily to Wigan and I use the limiter set to the current limit. I can comfortably accelerate as much as appropriate without the worry of speeding and I find it more comfortable to have my foot on the pedal. The ability to Instantly adjust speed is much better too. I've also discovered around 10% better fuel economy too, at around 50-55mog on average now.
Finally someone mention speedlimiter. I do use it allmost all the time. On the motorway i like to use adaptive cruise control, though. One thing you didn’t mention regarding limiter is, that you don’t constantly have to watch your speedometer, you know you’re not going neither too fast nor too slow. Cheers
I have a limiter on my Nissan but never used it until very recently. It is a very good tool I am discovering. I thank you for that as it was one of your videos that introduced me to it.
I only have cruise control, the limit on our highways is 130kmh (80mph) so if its fairly empty I set it to 130 and thats about it. If there is more traffic I tend to set it to around 110, so that I rarely catch trucks and it's just a much more chill ride than trying to keep that 130 and have to constantly overtake and slowdown. If the traffic is quite high I tend to just chill behind a truck at whatever speed they are going at, because at those times there are a ton of impatient drivers tailgating, especially on the overtaking lane even if there is no space infront
I use both. I find speed limiters extremely useful for average speed check zones as usually the traffic is quite heavy meaning I can back off without braking or constantly toggling the cruise. Foot down and enjoy cruising at the limit. Cruise is so so useful, even at slower speeds I find it so handy to take some stress out of my feet and it stops the very second my foot touches the brake pedal
Having started watching your videos I am so happy that this has given me the clarity and help me put more thought into my driving. I can confidently say I have improved immensely, not to say I was bad in the first place, so thank you for your information and help you have given me. I do feel much calmer and safer when driving now. I am considering asking my old driving instructor for a ride-along to make sure I am up to date on the theory and get an assessment of my current driving standard.
I never used my speed limiter until a recent RoSPA instructor discussed it with me. I now use it most of the time I drive. I still use cruise control on motorway journeys and play the game of trying to control speed using only cruise control, not the accelerator or brake. This takes a lot of observation and anticipation and is good for ensuring concentration is maintained for long periods of time.
Great video. I have both limiter & cruise control, and use both in much the same way as you show in the video. I often set them at a couple of mph higher or lower than the limit, depending on conditions at the time to make progress whilst maintaining a good gap ( 2 second rule +) and avoiding excessive lingering in someone’s blind spot. I don’t think it would be a good idea for all cars to be limited, because a). Some drivers would just drive at the limit regardless of conditions and ‘switch off’ b). There would be insufficient differential in speed between lanes, which together with an already worsening standard of lane discipline on our dual carriageways and motorways, would make blind spot dangers even more acute c) Too many drivers would not have watched Ashley’s videos to know how to use these features correctly !
Hi I don't use my cruise control much. But always use the speed limit driving in a 30 or 20 zone near school. Very helpful. It keeps a nice clean license.
Since watching this video I've tried using the limiter rather than cruise control (which was my habit previously) and I like it, you have much more control over the car's speed and position. Cruise control is great for v quiet motorways, and some dual carriageways, but it does tend to make you stay at that one set speed irrespective of what's in front of you, so you have to keep knocking it off and re-setting it. Whereas with the limiter you can be more proactive in adjusting your speed for the conditions ahead and accelerate back to the limit speed when all is clear. Thanks for the tip Ashley.
Milton Keynes - good place to practice your roundabouts. I have adaptive cruise. I prefer to use that most of the time, but I use the limiter in limits where I want to avoid speeding. It's contextual.
I use the speed limiter most of the time. With my car however it does not disengage when pressing the pedal all the way, as you described. I find it very comfortable to use the speed limiter.
Excellent video Ashley, I'll be rewatching this one lots of times to look at how you're managing space around you on the motorway. I don't have a limiter but do have cruise control and do sometimes use it. Two scenarios: (i) in light to moderate traffic on motorways as you show and (ii) in temporary speed limits e.g. roadworks where traffic conditions allow. One way I've used it on occasion when I'm not in a hurry is to set it to a 60-65mph 'cruising altitude' and then simply override it with extra gas to say blast past lorries at 70. Obvs this requires care to manage gaps in front and behind - but then motorway driving requires that anyway. I'm aware too I need to adjust or cancel it as the need arises. My system isn't adaptive ( 2011 Skoda Octavia VRS) but you can adjust the speed up and town in increments of about 2kph which is very useful. Sad to see the M3 go but I guess going electric makes so much sense. Thanks as always.
I own a 2004 Z4 (used buy five years ago), first car with a cruise control built in i've owned in the 24 years of being a licence holder. I use it regularly on country roads or highways, not so much in the city, but from time to time. It does help keeping to the speedlimit and takes away having to check constantly how fast you're going which adds more attentiveness to watching traffic and planning ahead. Car doesn't have a limiter but i'm not sure i'd use it if it had....
An interesting explanation of the workings of and differences between limiters and cruise control. Thanks. The highlight for me, however, is seeing someone who actually understands the need to be aware of their surroundings at all times when driving, making full use of the road (including returning to lane 1 when it's clear) and indicating clearly and until a lane change manoeuvre is complete. If only everyone paid as much attention to the traffic around them, anticipating moves by others and keeping a safe distance, driving would be far more pleasurable. Thanks once again for an interesting film.
Speed differential is such an important point you make. My MX-5 has limiter and cruise, never tried the limiter before but am going to give it a conscious effort next time I’m on the motorway. Another excellent video, thanks!
*I have never had the pleasure to use a speed limiter, but I have pretty much always been able to use cruise control. *I think, since watching your videos, using a speed limiter is a brilliant idea. *It would NEVER work here in the States, there are just too many drivers that would not follow the limiter rules. Now, about where you said "let me know if this video was helpful". Your videos have always been very helpful. *Ashley Neal OBE* for the next Honours List
I use adaptive cruise control and lane keeping on main roads, and ACC alone most of the time. It's a modern system and uses cameras and radar to keep a pre-determined distance/time behind any vehicle in front that is slower. I am not a driver that MGIF all the time, so slowing with traffic is fine for me, and I'll overtake when clear. On a road trip a few miles slower makes very little difference to total journey time.
In roads as shown in the video, adaptive cruise with lane-keep assistance. Set your speed. and the car will keep to that speed unless it encounters a slower vehicle. Put your indicator on and if it's clear(the car will check and make sure) the car will pull out to ovetake. Then, once past, indicate to pull in and the car will safely pull in. Obviously, you need to do your own checks and observations but it sure as heck takes the stress out of longer trips. It's also invaluable in average speed road works, as you can set it to 50 and not worry.
I use both. Most of the time I use the cruise controll, or adaptive cruise control to be clear. When I have windy roads, or conditions wherr I need to be able to adjust as a moments notice, I move over to the limiter. But even with the acc on, I can assess and adjust speed. As I have an electric, I mostly drive in the B gear that automatically breaks using recouperation. And it will go to a full stop if I let it, but it doesn't do a full on break. So if I get close to a speedbump at a 30 or 40kmh zone, I turn off acc a few meters before, and then turn it back on as I get to it, or am over it. Unless I know the bump is properly calibrated to the speed limit. In which case I will leave it on. My foot always ready on the break, and eyes scanning for potential danger.
Back in the mid 1980's, I owned a 1977 Jawa 350-634.5.05 Oil Master, which was the first & only 1970's production motorcycle sold with a cruise control throttle. It was useful for motorway cruising. To operate, the rider attained the desired cruising speed, then moved a friction damper lock ring with the forefinger & thumb. This locked the throttle. To release the cruise control, the rider simply twisted the throttle as usual. I've seen these old Jawa cruise control throttles installed on other makes of bike.
Cruise control keeps me out of court. Best use as Ashley says is on the motorway/dual carriageway when it teaches you to look far enough ahead to be in the correct lane to avoid having to change speed.
I frequently use the cruise control as I do a lot of motorway miles. It really does make driving less stressful and I think in some ways it can make you a better driver. The reason I say this is that if you want to keep at that constant speed, you really do have to read the road ahead to make sure you have plenty of time to pull out to overtake without getting boxed in but also to ensure you're not out in the overtaking lane too long. I sometimes use the speed limiter on the motorway where temporary limits and speed cameras are in place, where traffic is sporadic. As Ashley says, it allows you to adjust your speed more easily but also means you don't fall into the trap of mirroring the vehicle in front's speed which can sometimes end up with you over the limit without realising when you slip into that 'autopilot' mindset (which of course shouldn't happen but can on long monotonous drives). My main issue with both is on steep downhill stretches where it automatically activates the brakes. This can be seen as brake checking if it follows an overtake, or at best, I feel it makes me look like an overcautious driver, overusing the brakes!
I do use cruise control often, even on short journeys. My old car had variable cruise control, and as you say easy to disengage either with the switch or touch of a pedal. It also saves fuel/pennies, and is easy on the engine.
I use both. CC on motorways and Limiter on most other roads. However, seeing this I will move more towards Limiter on motorways for the reasons you gave, it does make sense and seems safer majority of the time, especially on my trips to my parents-in-law via the M25 and M3. I use the Limiter on most roads to control my maximum speed. My thoughts are that a few seconds to set the Limiter to the limit or below, is safer than having to glance down regularly at the speedo to make sure I'm under. Works very well for me during my town driving which is usually between 30 and 40 mph and it is nice to know I will never exceed it.
I used to use my cruise control all the time, but I did find that I was more likely to want to keep to what the cruise control was set to than manage myself around others and I got myself into a couple of hairy situations as a result. As a result, I've stopped using it full stop unless it is very, very quiet. I find that on my commute, the roads are far too congested to ever get it on. As a bonus, my driving has become much smoother as well and I've found an increase in my fuel efficiency to boot!
I use cruise control about 90% of the time I'm driving, it teaches you to look further ahead and pay extra attention. Plus it's perfect to keep you getting those pesky tickets on unknown roads
Last night I drove from Northampton to Sheffield on the M1 with adaptive cruise control all the way. Only touched the accelerator to pass slower trucks! The truck I drive has speed limited to 55mph but I do occasionally used the speed limit function when I'm on open roads with a low speed limit. On town\city driving there are enough roundabouts, traffic lights and junctions to stop me going too fast so I don't use the limiter as much.
I drive a C4 automatic, which has Cruise Control and a Limiter. My right leg was paralysed below the knee in a motorcycle accident, so I have a stiff ankle, which is good for walking, but not so good for driving with accuracy on the accelerator; I mostly use my hip/thigh muscles to move my leg to operate the accelerator and brake pedals. My Limiter is always on (unless I switch to using CC on long quiet motorway journeys), and I set it to the posted limit for the section of road I’m on; this prevents my stiffened ankle from inadvertently exceeding the limit. I have occasionally used the kick down feature to add speed when necessary, but prefer to plan ahead and slow down in good time. And it is easier to just turn off the Limiter for a few moments
In practice I've never found that a cruise control removes any adjustability. My current car doesn't have it, but I used to drive a Saab 95 and I used to engage the cruise control as soon as possible (25mph) and leave it on as long as possible. I basically drove the whole time on cruise control except when pulling away and manoeuvring at slow speed. I found that it worked extremely well as a limiter but with the flexibility to blip the throttle at any time when needed. It was great for matching speed with other vehicles using the +/- buttons and to slow down just disengage it or touch the brake. I found that it had a calming influence on me as a driver because I would tend to slow down and match speed with a finger tip rather than accelerate to overtake. That said, I don't really see the need for a speed limiter. My cruise control did everything I needed.
I use both almost all the time - I don't have adaptive cruise. Cruise on dual-carriageway/motorways quiet enough to use it - that's every single day on my commute; limiter on other roads where I might find my speed creeping up. At the end of the quiet sections, the cruise goes off and I set the limiter. I have learnt not to be constantly adjusting the limiter for every change of limit, my main two settings are 32 mph (which gives a GPS 30 mph) and 58, which gives me 55 mph (I'm trying to economise with fuel at the sky-high prices at the moment). If I have to travel a fair distance in town, the 32 gets set, and if there is a temporary limit on a motorway. One thing I have learnt to do though, is to include cancelling the limiter when I'm preparing to overtake. I prefer the flexibility of having those extra miles per hour available. I don't use cruise in bad weather but will set the limiter to my chosen (reduced) max to prevent speed creep, something it's easy to do in fog or low visibility.
I haven't had the opportunity to drive a car equipped with a speed limiter but I mostly use the cruise control to help me maintain a steady progress on quieter motorways and not end up overtaking the same car several times in half an hour.
I sometimes use cruise control on longer stretches of 30mph roads, particularly if being tailgated. It's one less thing to worry about. Keep my thumb on the cancel button though!
Hi Ash. Although not the subject of this (excellent) video, I wanted to ask you about the situation around 1:00. Signalling at a roundabout controlled by traffic lights. 1. For a right turn (as per the one you were making), I would of course signal right on the approach 2. If I am now stopped at a red light waiting to emerge onto the roundabout, I tend to leave my right signal on until another car comes up behind me in the same lane and possibly also one or two more vehicles arrive in adjacent lanes 3. At this point (especially if I know it's going to be a long red light) I often switch my right signal off. To me it just seems a bit "excessive" to keep my right signal flashing for an extended red light of this nature (different if it's at a REGULAR non roundabout traffic light) 4. I will then reapply my right signal when the FIRST of any the following three events occur: - I can see the traffic light for the cross traffic change from green to amber (not always visible) - I see the cross traffic (if there is any) stop, suggesting they now have a red light and my light about to turn green - My traffic light changes from red to red and amber. 5. I particularly apply the above procedure at night and even more so if it's been raining as well. All along the same principle of reducing rear dazzle for those behind as has been discussed many times on your channel re: apply handbrake / brake lights off once someone stops behind you. Am I doing the right thing here? Again, I would not apply this technique at regular traffic lights if the right lane is a combined right turn / straight ahead lane (hate when folks do that) but I have used this technique at regular traffic lights with a dedicated right turn only lane. Your expertise would be greatly appreciated...and yes I know "Signal if someone was to benefit". :)
No issues as far as I'm concerned as when you've stopped a signal is of little help. Just be mindful of what a signal being turned off might mean to people around you? Changed your mind perhaps?
@@ashley_neal Thank You Ash. Yes I'm aware of the "Changed his mind?" potential for misunderstanding. One of those situations where you have to carefully judge and "pick your moment".
As an IAM Roadsmart member your approach sounds perfect to me and tbh it's what I do too. The "has he changed his mind?" scenario is a fair point, but it makes little difference to people as you are static. Since you promptly put the signal on again just before the opportunity to move comes along, I'd say anybody who had been in any doubt would have plenty of time to realise you really are about to turn. Spot on - to me, yours is thoughtful and considerate driving. Wish there was more of that about on our roads. 🙂👍
@@R04drunner1 Loved reading your reply. Yes I was also thinking the "changed his mind" ambiguity might not matter too much for the very reason you mention: During that stage, we are all stationary anyway. Interesting you mention you are an IAM Roadsmart Member. I attend many car shows here in the south east and there is often a Roadsmart booth at these events. I've spoken to the reps running these booths many times and been handed free Roadsmart magazines on many occassions. The reps keep asking me when I'm going to enroll with them with a view to taking the test. And they've even added "Although we haven't seen how you drive yet, just in talking with you we feel you would be quite successful". I'm sure next car show season they will remember me and ask me again! Have to say, this pandemic has made made me put off enrolling for now but maybe next year. Thank You again for your feedback. I consider it a great honour coming from an IAM Roadsmart member. Are you also an observer btw?
@@ibs5080 it's a pleasure: credit where credit is due. I don't make a big thing about IAM membership as, to be honest, there's none of us perfect and every day is a school day as far as driving is concerned. However I thought my feedback would mean more to you if I showed you it came from an informed position. I've been an IAM member for almost 40 years and am currently preparing for a Masters exam (hopefully in the New Year when there is more sunlight and the weather improves). I've been too busy to get involved in groups so I am not an Observer although I did do an informal observation run with a friend who then went on to join up and pass his Advanced Test. You definitely sound like the kind of guy who would greatly benefit from membership. You'd learn a lot about driving, you'd get more pleasure from driving, probably better economy and certainly cheaper insurance. Go for it.
With radar and camera systems now becoming far more common so the car maintains distance and brakes automatically, cruise v limiter is becoming a history lesson. My current car has a camera system and its brilliant, especially in very heavy traffic.
I use both cruise control and speed limiter. The limiter was very useful when I had a larger distance between charge points and by limiting the top speed it enabled the vehicle to increase its range compared to driving at the speed limit. The cruise control is adaptive so if set at the speed limit, if the vehicle in front slows, or if a vehicle pulls in front, it will automatically slow the vehicle to accommodate. I use CC at all speeds from 30kmph to 100kmph. I believe that if all drivers used these functions and by doing so drove to the speed limit it would make for a more relaxing journey, but even if these functions were available in all vehicles I feel many drivers would not engage the functions and would rather "be in control" of the vehicle.
A great video. I mostly use the limiter, mainly in temporary limit sections and average speed camera zones. In an average section I set it a few mph below the limit. It always surprises me how many people don’t understand how an average works as they just slow down for the cameras!
I miss cruise control on long motorway stints. But only if they are set up right. If its set up to drive at exactly the speed you set it at. It drains fuel faster than if its set to allow 3mph under and over the set speed depending on elevations in the road. In which that gives a bang on fuel economy. I use speed limiter in average speed check areas on motorways as speed changes amongst traffic is inevitable.
I've had my current car nearly 3 years, only started using the limiter this week & i think it's the way to go. Cruse is more difficult because you constantly adjusting or resetting it. However when driving lorries and buses at 56mph it works well as you are moving slower than most other road users.
I am just starting to use the limiter as opposed to the cruise control in both our cars. Both the Suzuki & Citroen van have different ways of engaging the limiter. The Citroen is the more straightforward system. The main reason I started using cruise control years ago was that I could set the vehicle at the speed limit, & be also less intimidated by the vehicle operators who insist on sitting under my rear bumper, at the speed limit of 65mph/110km/h, even though those vehicle operators always have ways around. The only drawback I found was that as you demonstrated, I was occasionally caught out in approaching situations quicker than I would have had more control of if I had known about & used the limiter. Even though you should not drive fatigued using the limiter will show up signs of fatigue due to not being able to maintain a constant speed than if you are locked into cruise control where it is either on or off. My usual drives are 200-400km round trips, along the Kwinana Freeway and Forrest Hwy between Perth, and Lake Clifton or Bunbury, Western Australia. The speed limits range between 80km/h & 110km/h.
I use both cruise control and speed limiter depending on the situation. On fast roads, I prefer the flexibility of Cruise Control, because if you need a bit more speed to pass someone changing lane badly, you can just press the accelerator, and return to your cruise speed by letting off again. If you need to lose speed, a slight touch of the brake will disengage it, and once the danger has cleared, you onl have to press the Resume button to re-engage and go back to your original cruise speed. Before I had a car with a speed limiter, I used to use cruise control in townIn town I prefer to use the speed limiter in town as well, but I felt I needed to be a lot more on the ball in that situation. Now I have a speed limiter, I use it a lot on busier urban roads, to make sure I can't speed, but again, I use the Cancel (Pause) and Resume buttons where the situation requires it.
I prefer cruise control for motorway driving but I use the limiter in built up areas so I don’t have worry about speeding and I feel I have more control with the limiter with slowing down and speeding up I don’t have to cancel and resume cruise all the time
I have cruise control, and I do use it. Possibly too much, but I’m working on that. Twice I have driven a loan car with a limiter when making long journeys, a Mercedes SUV and a Toyota Aygo, and I did use the limiter on urban roads in both cars.
Tend to use the limiter when driving in urban areas, just helps avoid speeding especially in the 20 mph zones; then the cruise control on the motorway.
Our only car with cruise control has the ability to hold the stalk to let off the throttle. I've used that to great effect when allowing bigger gaps, but at the same time I agree. I've driven 7+ hours without cruise and have been fine, but it's definitely good for stopping cramp lol.
I never turn my speed limiter off. As a young driver, I can't afford to get caught speeding, so I'll always have it set to the current speed limit. Even if I may be going slower than the limit, it's best to know when I do speed up that I won't go over the limit.
I’m a learner so still getting used to cruise control. When I’m on the highway or freeway sitting at 100km/h for a while, I’ll use cruise control bc I drove once without it and my ankle started to ache. All other situations, normal driving is fine for me
I use cruise control on motorways all the time, my right leg starts to ache otherwise. I also use it on long, lower speed sections so that again, my leg doesn't start to ache. However, when going through tricky zones such as school areas or generally busy areas, I keep my speed limiter on at about 5 below the speed limit so that I never exceed without realising. A lot of people tell me that cruise control on motorways makes them tired or complacent which I totally agree with but for me personally, I am a very alert driver regardless and cruise control helps me be comfortable and keep at a good, steady speed at any given time whether it's through roadworks or temporary speed limits such as between J13 and 16 on the M1. Plus, having cruise control on means you can divert more of your attention away from your speed and more towards what's going on ahead.
I use my limiter on my e class way more than the cruise and I have to press the kick down before it will disable. It’s good tech the Speed Limiter especially on crammed 50 limits on motorways as you can concentrate more on the surroundings without the fear of breaking the speed limit.
Great video and explained things really well. Your old car looks stunning, Ashley, and has obviously been well looked after. My car has cruise control (CC) and Automatic Speed Limiter (ASL). One obvious restriction with both systems is that they operate from the displayed speed of the car. That is not necessarily the actual ground speed of the car. My car is 5% optimistic at the speedometer, so a speed limit of 60 MPH can be obeyed even with the CC set to 63 MPH. So even if everybody drove at what they think is the speed limit, you will get people at different actual speeds! Very confusing. I am guessing the speedometer on that Audi was badly broken, there was obviously a problem somewhere... perhaps in the nut behind the steering wheel? CRUISE CONTROL (CC) - LOVE IT I do use CC quite frequently, even in relatively busy areas, as it allows me to keep at the speed limit with no effort on the accelerator. However it does mean one has to be very aware of one's surroundings and be quick to knock the CC off or step on the brakes if a hazardous situation is coming up. Having one's foot at the brake pedal means a quicker start to braking if needed, so the safety is improved as long as the driver retains situational awareness. It's also great for long journeys, easing foot strain. I first encountered CC on a manual car I owned previously, but the CC would knock off as soon as I depressed the clutch to change gear. CC is far more effective in my current automatic, with the ability to change gears without coming out of CC. Not all cars have a nice, simple CC. On mine it's great: I just hit the UP button and the car will lock in to that speed. On others, there is quite a rigmarole to activating CC so I just don't bother. The CC on my car doesn't touch the brakes, it just works by modulating the throttle. It's good in that, if I have temporarily overridden the cruise speed, when I lift off the car gradually decelerates back to the cruise speed rather than applying the brakes to slow down. It's bad in that, with cruise engaged, it is all to easy for the car to exceed the cruise setting when travelling down a slope - simply lifting off the throttle is not enough to keep the speed down. I will put the drive selector into Sport for those situations, so that the car chooses a lower gear ratio and keeps its speed down, or I will even manually change down a gear or two using the car's flappy paddles. I did drive a hybrid Prius for a while: when going down a hill with the CC switched on, that car used regenerative braking to stock up on battery power and it simply maintained the same speed. That was a great feature. There is also a special CC on my present car called All Surface Progress Control (ASPC). It operates at low speeds (2 mph to 19 mph) and is designed to maintain steady progress in slippery conditions and down slopes. That does use the brakes to slow the car when needed: very useful on a hill descent. AUTOMATIC SPEED LIMITER (ASL) - HATE IT I have tried ASL but hated the disconcerting feeling of pressing the gas pedal and having nothing happen. It's true that kickdown will allow the driver to override the ASL, but on my car if you use kickdown the car drops a couple of gears, the supercharger kicks in and then ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE while the rear tyres scream in protest and the scenery starts to blur. I did it once when my wife was in the car and I was still getting used to her (the car, not the wife). Not a drama that I'd want to repeat, for the sake of my wife's neck and for the sake of my ears afterwards! With ASL one still has to do all the work on the gas pedal. If I am doing that anyway, I reckon there's not much point in the ASL as I'm maintaining progress at the speed limit without nanny interfering. I can understand ASL being useful in average speed camera situations but I'd probably have to keep knocking it off to deal with developing situations around me. So I am not a fan. YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).
When driving the freeways in USA I used Cruise Control ... much greater distances involved and few vehicles in the areas between cities. In the UK I am very much into using the Limiter - in all areas where possible ... even to the 20MPH around schools at certain times of the day.
Had had a number of cars with cruise control, agree with Ashley it can be a pain in busy traffic. Now I have a 2016 VW Golf with Adaptive cruise control it is a massive improvement over cruise control. As with all such devices they are an AID to good driving not a replacement for it. With good prediction when driving you can keep to set speed with ACC pulling out to overtake in good time. If you need to speed up to make the manoeuvre it is easy to do so by depressing the accelerator coming of brings you down to the pre-set speed or you can brake when needed, this dis-engages the ACC. Getting back on to set speed is as easy as pressing the RES button on the steering wheel. ACC is great in heavy traffic when you want to maintain speed the traffic is flowing at, just takes away some of the driving pressure. What does surprise me is a BMW M3 doesn't have adaptive cruise control, seems like a spec error on BMW's part. Do use speed limiter but only on roads with light traffic, ACC is the much more useful aid.
I tend to use the limiter most of the time whilst driving, setting it to the speed limit (or below in tricky weather conditions). As well as allowing to accelerate past it if needed, it also alerts me if I over speed going downhill. With speed limit, limit speed and current speed (gps measured) on my head up, it is easy to keep legal. Only used cruise on overnight motorway driving when there is no traffic.
I'm fortunate to have both limiter and cruise settings in my car, however I never use the limiter. I like to be in full control of the vehicle, especially at lower speeds. Managing my speed is part of my awareness which keeps me sharper and more alert to my surroundings. Cruise control however is perfect for those long stretches of motorways with little to no traffic. The M58, which i'm sure viewers from the Wigan/Sefton areas can agree, gets pretty quiet outside rush hour traffic, and is perfect for using cruise control.
My current car doesn't have a limiter, but I use cruise control quite often (as long as there's not anyone in front of me at least). However I'm getting a new car soon that does have a limiter, so this video came at the perfect time for me.
As I don’t have speed limiter, I use cruise control a lot. I find it very convenient for setting at 30mph and motorway speeds. It should stop the driver going too fast and getting speeding tickets.
A good place for CC are the 30 and 40 areas, it means you don’t need to take your eyes off the road and if you have a tail-gatter you are not tempted to increase your speed.
I use cruise on motorways all the time. It is a bit too easy to lose track of pace in my car. I frequently do 300-ish mile journeys and I find a noticeable difference in tiredness at the end of that journey when I've been using the cruise. I don't really buy the notion that cruise should be an excuse for losing concentration: it's only managing the pace of your vehicle, not the ones around you. As for the speed limiter: I've used it a few times, but I'm not really convinced that it works that well (in my car at least). In Scotland we have some long stretches of average speed checks, and I find it harder to modulate the throttle to keep the car on the ASL, than it is just to drive manually or set the cruise. As ever though, thanks for the food for thought
I use speed limiter most of the time, I use cruise control on multi lane highways with light traffic. There can be a tendency not to slowdown at the correct time when approaching risk with cruise control enabled, I also believe it is illegal to use cruise in heavy traffic in some countries. Regarding everyone driving at the same speed, for sure it would be safer, probably with less congestion as well, the closest we get to it here in the UK is probably variable speed limits on some motorways where it does reduce the concertina effect. There must also be data on this from the US from when they had the 55 mile/hr speed limit across most of the country. I was driving over there at that time and can clearly remember multiple lanes of traffic all moving at the same speed. Another benefit is of course is considerably reduced noise and air pollution.
I never used speed limiter until yesterday and I don't see myself using it much to be honest. I do see the use in it so it might just come down to getting used to it. Cruise control however I really didn't use much at first mainly because of an incident which put me off from using it. On long stretches of motorway I would engage the cruise control, and when it was time to exit my feet were a bit numb so I messed up my gear shift so bad that it got stuck and would only go in reverse. A kind soul helped me push it off the road and into a parking spot where I got it fixed. But the incident sat with me for a long while until I tried using it again. Now I know to keep my feet moving all the time, and I also know that the movement of pedals will feel different after not using them for most of the drive. Now I quite enjoy using the cruise control on the motorway. I set it at the lowest speed restriction we have in Denmark (110 km/h) and away I go.
I always use cruise control, whether it's 20 mph or 40. Since i did the fuel efficiency cpc course i use it on every road whenever i can. Massive difference to my mpg using cruise control....surprising how many people have never used it.
I only have cruise control in my 2006 Ford Focus Ghia - I find it very useful and fuel efficient on motorways when there isn't much traffic, but more hassle than it's worth at busier times when I'm having to time lane changes etc
Driving in California I used the CC, _A Lot_. I lived in a rural area where it could be an hour or more between towns. Here in Germany I use the limiter a lot more than the CC. I find both help me keep my attention on the road, and not in the cockpit. I use the limiter on the Autobahn as you suggest, it works well. Only in very light conditions will I set the Cruise.
Never had a vehicle with a limiter, but I've been using cruise control for years. In my current car (VW) it's only useful in light traffic, as you say. But in my old car (Honda) the cruise control was simpler and worked better. Essentially if you pressed "decel" it instantly closed the throttle and car would slow using engine braking. If you pressed accel it instantly opened the throttle. This means you can make micro-adjustments and match your speed to vehicles around you. The VW one tries to be more clever and lock you to a specific mph, but that means you can never match your speed and end up having to turn it off if there is even moderate traffic around. Simpler is definitely better with cruise control.
In the absence of ACC I use the limiter when driving in major urban connurbations where there is a constant 30mph or 40mph limit. I use CC most of the time when traffic conditions allow. In my Skoda Kodiaq it is easy to adjust the CC and cancel it with a simple dab on the brakes, or a swipe of the lever on the stalk. Using CC also seems to give me much better fuel consumption
My cars both have Cruise control but not limiters. When I was driving vans with a limiter, I did like to use this, especially set to 25mph in built up/residential areas. I would use it in heavier traffic on dual carriegways and motorways too but most a cruise control person.
Speed limiter, I set it at 32 or 42 which gives a true 30 or 40 mph depending on the prevailing speed limit. I use it occasionally on 50 or 60 average speed check stretches. Adaptive speed control I rarely use and certainly not if the road conditions are anyhing like wet or busy., my right foot gives me far better control plus I can cater well in advance for any situations that may arise.
I too have a BMW and use the speed limiter all the time. Slow speeds and high speeds. Just about the change to a BMW with adaptive cruise, so we'll see how that works as well on longer, straigher, quiter roads.
I use adaptive CC and have choice of 1 or 5mph increments. 33mph indicated = 30mph on the road, still the cars stack up behind me. A safety point is you can leave your right foot over the brake thus saving reaction time.
I mostly use limiter as I mostly drive on single carriageway 'A' roads with 30, 40, 50 and 60 limits , on motorways and Dual carriageways I use cruise control if the traffic allows and I use limiter where the speed limits are not NSL regardless of traffic. I remember in the handbook of one car I owned it said cruise control shouldn't be used if the road is wet, it's also worth mentioning that the speed limiter will not stop you from going over the set speed down hill.
Loved your reaction to the audi at 9:23 😄 I personally use cruise control quite a lot when it's available, and the car I currently drive doesn't have a speed limiter setting so I have not yet been able to try that, but I think I would still use cruise control mainly, just so that I can relax my right foot instead of having to keep a constant pressure.
What do I use? In my car, I only have cruise control, and I use it quite a lot - even on urban 30mph roads if the conditions allow. Engaging cruise control stops the speed creeping up accidentally, and it's easy to hit the "cancel" button the moment you would take your foot off the accelerator if you weren't driving in cruise. In fact, I specifically chose the model of car that I have because at the time I bought it, it was one of the few small cars that had CC as an option. In my van, I only have a limiter, which is set at 70. It was set that way when I bought it (used), and I could reprogram the ECU to remove the limit, but TBH, I like it as it is because I can use it as a "poor man's cruise control" on the motorway. When I'm driving trucks, it's typically cruise control on motorways/dual carriageways (provided traffic is light enough), and limiter on single carriageways. On single carriageways you often can't maintain the limit (it's often a struggle to get up to the limit on rural A-roads), so the limiter is useful to allow me to concentrate on road conditions without having to worry about "am I speeding?" as well.
Use Adaptive Cruise Control (Volvo) when on longer distance cruising. Even works well on peak time. You can unconsciously slow down when you are approaching slower vehicles from behind , then realise you are only doing 56MPH safely distanced behind a truck
Anecdotal and only from personal experience but I do think a set limit is far more stress free and safe. On a journey back from the South there were some temporary speed limits of 60mph and it went on for a very long time. It was the most stress free driving I have ever done. I didn't catch the car in front and the cars behind didn't catch me, just all sat (due to average cameras) at 60mph for mile after mile and it was just so relaxing. I didn't realise just how relaxed an environment it was until it went back to national limit and no average cameras and suddenly it was whacky races again. I for one would welcome average cameras on every motorway to keep people at 70mph, so much more relaxing and safe.
I used to use the limiter quite a lot in my old car, because it was very simple to activate. In my new car, I have to fiddle on with a switch and press a few buttons (not the end of the world, but enough to cause a faff) - so I don’t really bother with it. I use cruise control a lot on dual carriageways/motorways, and even a section of 40 mph limit near my home - as it’s pin straight and has absolutely no traffic lights for around 8 miles. I also have adaptive cruise which I use sometimes, but I prefer to use standard cruise control more because I find it too easy to stop paying enough attention when using the adaptive system.
I use Adaptive Cruise Control (radar based with camera based lane detection) and find it works very well. I do have a limiter as an alternative but prefer not to use it. I can override, but that does not suit my driving style. I was also once caught out in Germany (about 15 years ago) when I had accidentally engaged the limiter on a Mercedes. It did not want to let me override and I struggled for a few seconds to figure out what was happening while trying to accelerate and failing.
An interesting video. I've had a few Skoda's with Cruise Control and found it great when on restricted motorways to save me from SPEC cameras. It can also be useful when towing my caravan, but only to a point. The problem is that once you are at speed, often someone will overtake and then slow down for no reason, which mean the CC is on/off/on/off/on/etc. My last Skoda also had a speed limiter, but I just found it too complicated to use, so I just didn't bother. However, my new BMW 330e has a speed limiter which is so simple to use and I've found it a God send. I use it all the time to keep me within the limits and I can then concentrate on what's going on outside. Much better and of more use all round.
Hi Ashley, great informative video, thanks for explaining the use of the speed limiter and how you can over ride that function by pressing your accelerator down more , I really did not know that and have been reluctant in using the limiter. I Love driving and cannot understand the mentality of some drivers. Keep safe and have a great Christmas.
I don’t have any my private car, but I use the cruise control only for relaxing my right foot on longer highway travels when not much is going on in terms of speed limit change. In other situations, I don’t like it at all and prefer full control and not become (dangerously) bored.
I use Cruise a lot. I find it easy to switch off if I need more control for a short distance and it's always off for junctions as you suggest. I've never used the limiter because I was concerned about not having some extra power if I needed it but am assured that you can step out of it if needed. I might try it. Thanks for good advice and good sense.
My own car has limiter but no cruise. It's second hand, but because the cruise was a proper factory option (the previous owner just didn't spec it) I can still have it retrofitted at the main dealer for about £250. Have to say I'm quite tempted because I've had hire cars with cruise and it's great. My dad's car has full adaptive cruise.
Speed limiter is cruise control when you have your foot down. I have it on all the time. Press the pedal even harder and it’s very easy to go beyond the set speed in case the speed limit rises or if I overtake. And, main point,no problems slowing down! Very useful in heavy traffic. When it clears up, you accelerate and when the radar comes up you’re quite happy you didn’t allow yourself to accidentally go beyond the limit 😁
Speed limiter 99% of my time driving, it good for controlling speed and allows you to concentrate on driving and dangers around you rather than watching the speedometer. On motorways on longer trips on quiet days I’ll use cruise control (ACC) but it has its flaws that can cause the car to brake suddenly.
I was going to make this point about Adaptive Cruise Control, too. An uneven road surface can cause the car to break sharply, if briefly.
Does your speed limiter turn off automatically when you floor it? Otherwise it sounds dangerous as hell
@@daylen577 yes, there’s a ”bubble” at the bottom of the accelerator range once you press that the car overrides the speed limiter (and eco mode if enabled) once you’ve completed your overtake and returned to the speed set the limiter is reenabled.
Hi Ashley, two things to add. You can feather your speed by canceling and resetting the cruise control as you observe the traffic conditions ahead of you. Also if you calibrate your speedometer with gps you can set your cruise control to the true speed (for me in my daily it is 73 for 70, 62 for 60, 52 for 50, 42 for 40 and 32 for 30. What you will then find is that you are able to make better progress on motorways and dual carriageways. Single carriageway roads and built-up areas obviously have to be driven to suit, as you so excellently show in your videos. The cruise control acting as a safety net for any lapses.
Love your videos. Keep up the excellent work.
Merry Christmas and New Year to you and your family
I think for the purposes of this video he has to stick to the limits :) I always check my speedo with a GPS speed and it only reads around 1mph over throughout the range.
@@horrgakx yes agreed.
Always good to know the speedo error.
In some cars (e.g. Tesla) the attempt to "feather your speed" will spectacularly fail, as the car will interpret the cancellation of the cruise control as a request to slow down as much as possible, surprising both you and any drivers of cars behind you. It's important, particularly when driving an unfamiliar vehicle, to become fully accustomed to how the various controls respond before relying on them too heavily. Cruise control and limiter implementations can vary much more than you'd expect from one vehicle to another.
In my own car, "cancel" and "resume" on the cruise control both respond with smooth changes of speed, so I use it a lot, but have learned that I can't rely on other cars responding the same way.
I always use cruise on longer journeys, and often use the + - speed controls like a hand throttle. My foot always covers the brake pedal. it works well also at slower speed limits. I don't think I will have a car without cruise again, makes a huge difference to your comfort (particularly in the legs) over multi-hour journeys.
Cruise control is a life changer lol I’ve been driving 11 years and only last year finally got a car with it. When you have to go on a 5 or 6 hour drive it’s so much easier with the cruise control on. I do what you do aswell, just use the + and - buttons to adjust to the flow of traffic
I do the same in my last car. Then I got my current with adaptive cruise and it's never been easier...
I think the speed limiter is one of the most underrated and useful features of modern cars. Especially on roadworks or temporary speed limit areas where you've got miles and miles of motorway that is has 50mph speed limit.
@Advanced Driving of course, needs to be quick glances timed appropriately, just like checking your speed on the speedometer as normal.
@Advanced Driving I guess it depends on the system, I can work my way from 20 to 70 and back or to any arbitrary speed without looking, on/off, whatever. Even if I did need to check, it is displayed next to the MPH readout I would have been fixated on anyway.
why not set the cruise control?
@@radishpea6615 If traffic conditions mean that you often can't maintain a constant 50, but you don't want to go over 50 during lighter traffic periods.
@@misterflibble9799 is that why Super Vitz uses the limiter?
My 2009 Focus Titanium has cruise control and I use it alot! After watching this video I'm gonna follow your advice and only use it when its quiet as it does get me into some situations where I need to quickly flick it off to regain control and slow down. Glad you did this video!
worrying you needed a video to know when to use cc and that you do not seem to learn from the experiences you have.
It is an art to using the +/- adjusters for the cruising speed (Does the Focus Titanium have those? Other Fords have.) to adjust the setting, and does require planning quite far ahead.
@@radishpea6615 cool
@@JdeBP it does yea but it's a bit too faffy for me, only just got the car so prefer to just set and forget when I really am just gonna be cruising
Adaptive Cruise is the answer here, me thinks. Set a two or three second gap, and smack it on a comfortable speed. As you approach traffic, it will slow the car by coming off the gas until you're following 2-3 seconds behind. It uses a front-mounted radar to maintain this gap. A huge benefit in VWs is that adaptive cruise can engage full emergency ABS braking if needed. Computing the distance at the frequency it does, it all but eliminates 'thinking distance' - so in the worst scenario, you buy yourself that extra distance as you're only looking at the car's actual braking distance.
I find the issue with people that use adaptive cruise control, is they often set it in the middle lane and just switch off. When driving at night when the roads are really quiet I see loads of people driving in the middle lane for no reason, usually in modern cars. I often think this is because of the use of adaptive cruise control.
I don’t think ACC is always the answer, if you don’t predict soon enough (in heavier traffic) to merge out into the next lane the car will start to slow and make it more difficult to merge out into the next lane if needed. If I a car in the left lane is beginning to merge out ACC won’t predict this and will brake heavy when they enter the lane.
@@olii9062 It is an absolutely brilliant piece of tech. Unfortunately some people aren't the best at using it but don't let that put you off using it/buying a car with it. Does most of the things Ashley talked about with the limiter and backing off etc (pending you keep paying attention of course). Although the only big issue with it is when you come up behind a slow vehicle you will slow to its speed, meaning when you change lanes to overtake you have a lot of accelerating to do, where using your foot/normal cruise you would be maintaining that speed. - Again, a problem solved by being an attentive driver.
@@richardthegreat completely agree. But that’s why these systems are meant to be an added aid or extra tool in your tool box, not as a replacement for proper awareness and judgement
@@olii9062, that’s a little presumptuous. I use ACC all the time and find it actually simplifies lane changes and encourages better practices. When manoeuvring into the lane to my right, after indicating, the car will pre-empt accelerating, and will manage braking and maintain safe distances if I need to move over to a slower left lane to turn off. It’s a fantastic bit of tech that compliments safe & aware driving, and has nothing to do with lazy driving habits.
Also as Hugh mentions above ACC, with the same VW system I use, it will also do a full emergency stop so can reduce reaction times.
THANK YOU ASHLEY! Honestly, you've explained my biggest problem with the limiter for me and why i don't use the limiter. Cruise control for me everytime, tap brake if sommat pops up, deal with it, back to cruisey
I never use cruise control or the limiter. I love being in full control when driving! Much more fun and learning experience as I’m a novice P plate driver. Great video as always Ashley
Cruise and limiters have their place.
@@horrgakx Maybe in a vehicle with hand controlled throttle for a driver with disabilities, or if you're on 9 points and for some reason are unable to restrain yourself on the motorway, but they do nothing to increase safety.
@@crunch8484
I disagree, if I have my limiter on i don't have to look at the dash or focus on my speed.
I can pay my attention to the road ahead instead of constantly looking at M25 variable limits.
@@crunch8484 I use cruise control on longer highway trips. Its just nice
And also i cant speed anymore since i got my first speeding ticket and as a new driver in my country. The second time will have high chances of losing my licence
@@aquatics117 With variable limits, doesn't that mean you keep needing to adjust the limiter anyway?
As for looking at the dash, it's only a quick, occasional glance, as you should be constantly looking around you, in your mirrors, at other vehicles, junctions etc anyway.
It partly comes down to experience of course, but after a while, like any skill you actively practice regularly, you learn to judge your speed by the engine note, accelerator resistance etc.
I had a limiter on my previous car and used it all the time, in everything from 20 - 70 zones. It's great to be able to set and forget... thereby keeping eyes on the road rather than flicking down to check the speedometer all the time. My current car only has cruse control, and whilst this is good on quiet main roads and motorways its a much less useful feature for everyday driving. If I could only pick one I'd definitely go with the limiter.
It bugs me when a car has one but not the other. Simply fitting both at the factory would cost pennies, but I guess it's a simple way to have people parting with more cash when speccing a new car.
And for some reason on recent Hondas, the cruise is a hidden secondary function of the limiter. Therefore there's no visible button for cruise and you might think your vehicle doesn't have it when it actually does.
My car (not a Honda) has limit but no cruise. The car supports cruise and it was a manufacturer option the previous owner didn't go for - I just have to pay the main dealer £250 for a replacement switch and a software update.
I use cruise regularly, but living in rural area the roads are quieter. I try and gauge space around me and rarely have to cancel it unless it gets really busy, when I would cancel the cruise anyway. Don't have limiter on this car, but did on the previous one and used it once on demo drive. We have a hybrid now, so I'm always trying to keep it in electric mode in built up areas which more often than not means I'm well within the speed limit.
Only found the channel during lockdown, but love the content and have learnt so much from you Ashley, so thanks for that. Seasons greetings to you and your family and all the viewers. Stay safe
I almost exclusively use limiter. I rest my foot on gas pedal and when I need to move above just push down as you said. With CC I noticed it was easier to get into more dangerous situations (wait too long with braking or being less engaged with driving). Plus I don’t have to worry about speed limits or accelerating and decelerating all the time when I can’t find the perfect position for pedal.
This almost the same for me. I travel the M55 and M6 daily to Wigan and I use the limiter set to the current limit. I can comfortably accelerate as much as appropriate without the worry of speeding and I find it more comfortable to have my foot on the pedal. The ability to Instantly adjust speed is much better too.
I've also discovered around 10% better fuel economy too, at around 50-55mog on average now.
Finally someone mention speedlimiter. I do use it allmost all the time. On the motorway i like to use adaptive cruise control, though. One thing you didn’t mention regarding limiter is, that you don’t constantly have to watch your speedometer, you know you’re not going neither too fast nor too slow.
Cheers
I have a limiter on my Nissan but never used it until very recently.
It is a very good tool I am discovering.
I thank you for that as it was one of your videos that introduced me to it.
I only have cruise control, the limit on our highways is 130kmh (80mph) so if its fairly empty I set it to 130 and thats about it. If there is more traffic I tend to set it to around 110, so that I rarely catch trucks and it's just a much more chill ride than trying to keep that 130 and have to constantly overtake and slowdown. If the traffic is quite high I tend to just chill behind a truck at whatever speed they are going at, because at those times there are a ton of impatient drivers tailgating, especially on the overtaking lane even if there is no space infront
I use both. I find speed limiters extremely useful for average speed check zones as usually the traffic is quite heavy meaning I can back off without braking or constantly toggling the cruise. Foot down and enjoy cruising at the limit.
Cruise is so so useful, even at slower speeds I find it so handy to take some stress out of my feet and it stops the very second my foot touches the brake pedal
Having started watching your videos I am so happy that this has given me the clarity and help me put more thought into my driving. I can confidently say I have improved immensely, not to say I was bad in the first place, so thank you for your information and help you have given me.
I do feel much calmer and safer when driving now. I am considering asking my old driving instructor for a ride-along to make sure I am up to date on the theory and get an assessment of my current driving standard.
I never used my speed limiter until a recent RoSPA instructor discussed it with me. I now use it most of the time I drive. I still use cruise control on motorway journeys and play the game of trying to control speed using only cruise control, not the accelerator or brake. This takes a lot of observation and anticipation and is good for ensuring concentration is maintained for long periods of time.
Great video.
I have both limiter & cruise control, and use both in much the same way as you show in the video.
I often set them at a couple of mph higher or lower than the limit, depending on conditions at the time to make progress whilst maintaining a good gap ( 2 second rule +) and avoiding excessive lingering in someone’s blind spot.
I don’t think it would be a good idea for all cars to be limited, because
a). Some drivers would just drive at the limit regardless of conditions and ‘switch off’
b). There would be insufficient differential in speed between lanes, which together with an already worsening standard of lane discipline on our dual carriageways and motorways, would make blind spot dangers even more acute
c) Too many drivers would not have watched Ashley’s videos to know how to use these features correctly !
Hi I don't use my cruise control much. But always use the speed limit driving in a 30 or 20 zone near school. Very helpful. It keeps a nice clean license.
Since watching this video I've tried using the limiter rather than cruise control (which was my habit previously) and I like it, you have much more control over the car's speed and position. Cruise control is great for v quiet motorways, and some dual carriageways, but it does tend to make you stay at that one set speed irrespective of what's in front of you, so you have to keep knocking it off and re-setting it. Whereas with the limiter you can be more proactive in adjusting your speed for the conditions ahead and accelerate back to the limit speed when all is clear. Thanks for the tip Ashley.
Milton Keynes - good place to practice your roundabouts.
I have adaptive cruise. I prefer to use that most of the time, but I use the limiter in limits where I want to avoid speeding. It's contextual.
I use the speed limiter most of the time. With my car however it does not disengage when pressing the pedal all the way, as you described. I find it very comfortable to use the speed limiter.
Excellent video Ashley, I'll be rewatching this one lots of times to look at how you're managing space around you on the motorway.
I don't have a limiter but do have cruise control and do sometimes use it. Two scenarios: (i) in light to moderate traffic on motorways as you show and (ii) in temporary speed limits e.g. roadworks where traffic conditions allow.
One way I've used it on occasion when I'm not in a hurry is to set it to a 60-65mph 'cruising altitude' and then simply override it with extra gas to say blast past lorries at 70. Obvs this requires care to manage gaps in front and behind - but then motorway driving requires that anyway. I'm aware too I need to adjust or cancel it as the need arises. My system isn't adaptive ( 2011 Skoda Octavia VRS) but you can adjust the speed up and town in increments of about 2kph which is very useful.
Sad to see the M3 go but I guess going electric makes so much sense.
Thanks as always.
I own a 2004 Z4 (used buy five years ago), first car with a cruise control built in i've owned in the 24 years of being a licence holder. I use it regularly on country roads or highways, not so much in the city, but from time to time. It does help keeping to the speedlimit and takes away having to check constantly how fast you're going which adds more attentiveness to watching traffic and planning ahead. Car doesn't have a limiter but i'm not sure i'd use it if it had....
An interesting explanation of the workings of and differences between limiters and cruise control. Thanks. The highlight for me, however, is seeing someone who actually understands the need to be aware of their surroundings at all times when driving, making full use of the road (including returning to lane 1 when it's clear) and indicating clearly and until a lane change manoeuvre is complete. If only everyone paid as much attention to the traffic around them, anticipating moves by others and keeping a safe distance, driving would be far more pleasurable. Thanks once again for an interesting film.
Adaptive cruise control, makes lots of sense on the only Motorway in Cumbria. Also I have the speed limit warning alarm set in the car.
Speed differential is such an important point you make. My MX-5 has limiter and cruise, never tried the limiter before but am going to give it a conscious effort next time I’m on the motorway. Another excellent video, thanks!
*I have never had the pleasure to use a speed limiter, but I have pretty much always been able to use cruise control.
*I think, since watching your videos, using a speed limiter is a brilliant idea.
*It would NEVER work here in the States, there are just too many drivers that would not follow the limiter rules.
Now, about where you said "let me know if this video was helpful". Your videos have always been very helpful.
*Ashley Neal OBE* for the next Honours List
I use adaptive cruise control and lane keeping on main roads, and ACC alone most of the time. It's a modern system and uses cameras and radar to keep a pre-determined distance/time behind any vehicle in front that is slower. I am not a driver that MGIF all the time, so slowing with traffic is fine for me, and I'll overtake when clear. On a road trip a few miles slower makes very little difference to total journey time.
In roads as shown in the video, adaptive cruise with lane-keep assistance. Set your speed. and the car will keep to that speed unless it encounters a slower vehicle. Put your indicator on and if it's clear(the car will check and make sure) the car will pull out to ovetake. Then, once past, indicate to pull in and the car will safely pull in. Obviously, you need to do your own checks and observations but it sure as heck takes the stress out of longer trips. It's also invaluable in average speed road works, as you can set it to 50 and not worry.
I use both. Most of the time I use the cruise controll, or adaptive cruise control to be clear. When I have windy roads, or conditions wherr I need to be able to adjust as a moments notice, I move over to the limiter. But even with the acc on, I can assess and adjust speed. As I have an electric, I mostly drive in the B gear that automatically breaks using recouperation. And it will go to a full stop if I let it, but it doesn't do a full on break. So if I get close to a speedbump at a 30 or 40kmh zone, I turn off acc a few meters before, and then turn it back on as I get to it, or am over it. Unless I know the bump is properly calibrated to the speed limit. In which case I will leave it on. My foot always ready on the break, and eyes scanning for potential danger.
Back in the mid 1980's, I owned a 1977 Jawa 350-634.5.05 Oil Master, which was the first & only 1970's production motorcycle sold with a cruise control throttle. It was useful for motorway cruising.
To operate, the rider attained the desired cruising speed, then moved a friction damper lock ring with the forefinger & thumb. This locked the throttle. To release the cruise control, the rider simply twisted the throttle as usual.
I've seen these old Jawa cruise control throttles installed on other makes of bike.
Cruise control keeps me out of court. Best use as Ashley says is on the motorway/dual carriageway when it teaches you to look far enough ahead to be in the correct lane to avoid having to change speed.
I frequently use the cruise control as I do a lot of motorway miles. It really does make driving less stressful and I think in some ways it can make you a better driver. The reason I say this is that if you want to keep at that constant speed, you really do have to read the road ahead to make sure you have plenty of time to pull out to overtake without getting boxed in but also to ensure you're not out in the overtaking lane too long. I sometimes use the speed limiter on the motorway where temporary limits and speed cameras are in place, where traffic is sporadic. As Ashley says, it allows you to adjust your speed more easily but also means you don't fall into the trap of mirroring the vehicle in front's speed which can sometimes end up with you over the limit without realising when you slip into that 'autopilot' mindset (which of course shouldn't happen but can on long monotonous drives).
My main issue with both is on steep downhill stretches where it automatically activates the brakes. This can be seen as brake checking if it follows an overtake, or at best, I feel it makes me look like an overcautious driver, overusing the brakes!
I do use cruise control often, even on short journeys. My old car had variable cruise control, and as you say easy to disengage either with the switch or touch of a pedal. It also saves fuel/pennies, and is easy on the engine.
I use both. CC on motorways and Limiter on most other roads. However, seeing this I will move more towards Limiter on motorways for the reasons you gave, it does make sense and seems safer majority of the time, especially on my trips to my parents-in-law via the M25 and M3.
I use the Limiter on most roads to control my maximum speed. My thoughts are that a few seconds to set the Limiter to the limit or below, is safer than having to glance down regularly at the speedo to make sure I'm under. Works very well for me during my town driving which is usually between 30 and 40 mph and it is nice to know I will never exceed it.
I used to use my cruise control all the time, but I did find that I was more likely to want to keep to what the cruise control was set to than manage myself around others and I got myself into a couple of hairy situations as a result. As a result, I've stopped using it full stop unless it is very, very quiet. I find that on my commute, the roads are far too congested to ever get it on. As a bonus, my driving has become much smoother as well and I've found an increase in my fuel efficiency to boot!
I use cruise control about 90% of the time I'm driving, it teaches you to look further ahead and pay extra attention. Plus it's perfect to keep you getting those pesky tickets on unknown roads
Last night I drove from Northampton to Sheffield on the M1 with adaptive cruise control all the way. Only touched the accelerator to pass slower trucks!
The truck I drive has speed limited to 55mph but I do occasionally used the speed limit function when I'm on open roads with a low speed limit. On town\city driving there are enough roundabouts, traffic lights and junctions to stop me going too fast so I don't use the limiter as much.
I drive a C4 automatic, which has Cruise Control and a Limiter. My right leg was paralysed below the knee in a motorcycle accident, so I have a stiff ankle, which is good for walking, but not so good for driving with accuracy on the accelerator; I mostly use my hip/thigh muscles to move my leg to operate the accelerator and brake pedals.
My Limiter is always on (unless I switch to using CC on long quiet motorway journeys), and I set it to the posted limit for the section of road I’m on; this prevents my stiffened ankle from inadvertently exceeding the limit.
I have occasionally used the kick down feature to add speed when necessary, but prefer to plan ahead and slow down in good time. And it is easier to just turn off the Limiter for a few moments
In practice I've never found that a cruise control removes any adjustability. My current car doesn't have it, but I used to drive a Saab 95 and I used to engage the cruise control as soon as possible (25mph) and leave it on as long as possible. I basically drove the whole time on cruise control except when pulling away and manoeuvring at slow speed. I found that it worked extremely well as a limiter but with the flexibility to blip the throttle at any time when needed. It was great for matching speed with other vehicles using the +/- buttons and to slow down just disengage it or touch the brake. I found that it had a calming influence on me as a driver because I would tend to slow down and match speed with a finger tip rather than accelerate to overtake. That said, I don't really see the need for a speed limiter. My cruise control did everything I needed.
To add to that, I have an app that beeps at me if I'm exceeding the speed limit.
I use both almost all the time - I don't have adaptive cruise. Cruise on dual-carriageway/motorways quiet enough to use it - that's every single day on my commute; limiter on other roads where I might find my speed creeping up. At the end of the quiet sections, the cruise goes off and I set the limiter. I have learnt not to be constantly adjusting the limiter for every change of limit, my main two settings are 32 mph (which gives a GPS 30 mph) and 58, which gives me 55 mph (I'm trying to economise with fuel at the sky-high prices at the moment). If I have to travel a fair distance in town, the 32 gets set, and if there is a temporary limit on a motorway.
One thing I have learnt to do though, is to include cancelling the limiter when I'm preparing to overtake. I prefer the flexibility of having those extra miles per hour available.
I don't use cruise in bad weather but will set the limiter to my chosen (reduced) max to prevent speed creep, something it's easy to do in fog or low visibility.
I haven't had the opportunity to drive a car equipped with a speed limiter but I mostly use the cruise control to help me maintain a steady progress on quieter motorways and not end up overtaking the same car several times in half an hour.
I sometimes use cruise control on longer stretches of 30mph roads, particularly if being tailgated. It's one less thing to worry about. Keep my thumb on the cancel button though!
Hi Ash. Although not the subject of this (excellent) video, I wanted to ask you about the situation around 1:00. Signalling at a roundabout controlled by traffic lights.
1. For a right turn (as per the one you were making), I would of course signal right on the approach
2. If I am now stopped at a red light waiting to emerge onto the roundabout, I tend to leave my right signal on until another car comes up behind me in the same lane and possibly also one or two more vehicles arrive in adjacent lanes
3. At this point (especially if I know it's going to be a long red light) I often switch my right signal off. To me it just seems a bit "excessive" to keep my right signal flashing for an extended red light of this nature (different if it's at a REGULAR non roundabout traffic light)
4. I will then reapply my right signal when the FIRST of any the following three events occur:
- I can see the traffic light for the cross traffic change from green to amber (not always visible)
- I see the cross traffic (if there is any) stop, suggesting they now have a red light and my light about to turn green
- My traffic light changes from red to red and amber.
5. I particularly apply the above procedure at night and even more so if it's been raining as well. All along the same principle of reducing rear dazzle for those behind as has been discussed many times on your channel re: apply handbrake / brake lights off once someone stops behind you.
Am I doing the right thing here? Again, I would not apply this technique at regular traffic lights if the right lane is a combined right turn / straight ahead lane (hate when folks do that) but I have used this technique at regular traffic lights with a dedicated right turn only lane. Your expertise would be greatly appreciated...and yes I know "Signal if someone was to benefit". :)
No issues as far as I'm concerned as when you've stopped a signal is of little help. Just be mindful of what a signal being turned off might mean to people around you? Changed your mind perhaps?
@@ashley_neal Thank You Ash. Yes I'm aware of the "Changed his mind?" potential for misunderstanding. One of those situations where you have to carefully judge and "pick your moment".
As an IAM Roadsmart member your approach sounds perfect to me and tbh it's what I do too.
The "has he changed his mind?" scenario is a fair point, but it makes little difference to people as you are static. Since you promptly put the signal on again just before the opportunity to move comes along, I'd say anybody who had been in any doubt would have plenty of time to realise you really are about to turn.
Spot on - to me, yours is thoughtful and considerate driving. Wish there was more of that about on our roads. 🙂👍
@@R04drunner1 Loved reading your reply. Yes I was also thinking the "changed his mind" ambiguity might not matter too much for the very reason you mention: During that stage, we are all stationary anyway.
Interesting you mention you are an IAM Roadsmart Member. I attend many car shows here in the south east and there is often a Roadsmart booth at these events. I've spoken to the reps running these booths many times and been handed free Roadsmart magazines on many occassions. The reps keep asking me when I'm going to enroll with them with a view to taking the test. And they've even added "Although we haven't seen how you drive yet, just in talking with you we feel you would be quite successful". I'm sure next car show season they will remember me and ask me again! Have to say, this pandemic has made made me put off enrolling for now but maybe next year.
Thank You again for your feedback. I consider it a great honour coming from an IAM Roadsmart member. Are you also an observer btw?
@@ibs5080 it's a pleasure: credit where credit is due. I don't make a big thing about IAM membership as, to be honest, there's none of us perfect and every day is a school day as far as driving is concerned. However I thought my feedback would mean more to you if I showed you it came from an informed position. I've been an IAM member for almost 40 years and am currently preparing for a Masters exam (hopefully in the New Year when there is more sunlight and the weather improves). I've been too busy to get involved in groups so I am not an Observer although I did do an informal observation run with a friend who then went on to join up and pass his Advanced Test. You definitely sound like the kind of guy who would greatly benefit from membership. You'd learn a lot about driving, you'd get more pleasure from driving, probably better economy and certainly cheaper insurance. Go for it.
With radar and camera systems now becoming far more common so the car maintains distance and brakes automatically, cruise v limiter is becoming a history lesson. My current car has a camera system and its brilliant, especially in very heavy traffic.
I use both cruise control and speed limiter. The limiter was very useful when I had a larger distance between charge points and by limiting the top speed it enabled the vehicle to increase its range compared to driving at the speed limit.
The cruise control is adaptive so if set at the speed limit, if the vehicle in front slows, or if a vehicle pulls in front, it will automatically slow the vehicle to accommodate. I use CC at all speeds from 30kmph to 100kmph.
I believe that if all drivers used these functions and by doing so drove to the speed limit it would make for a more relaxing journey, but even if these functions were available in all vehicles I feel many drivers would not engage the functions and would rather "be in control" of the vehicle.
A great video. I mostly use the limiter, mainly in temporary limit sections and average speed camera zones. In an average section I set it a few mph below the limit. It always surprises me how many people don’t understand how an average works as they just slow down for the cameras!
I miss cruise control on long motorway stints. But only if they are set up right. If its set up to drive at exactly the speed you set it at. It drains fuel faster than if its set to allow 3mph under and over the set speed depending on elevations in the road. In which that gives a bang on fuel economy. I use speed limiter in average speed check areas on motorways as speed changes amongst traffic is inevitable.
I've had my current car nearly 3 years, only started using the limiter this week & i think it's the way to go. Cruse is more difficult because you constantly adjusting or resetting it. However when driving lorries and buses at 56mph it works well as you are moving slower than most other road users.
I am just starting to use the limiter as opposed to the cruise control in both our cars. Both the Suzuki & Citroen van have different ways of engaging the limiter. The Citroen is the more straightforward system.
The main reason I started using cruise control years ago was that I could set the vehicle at the speed limit, & be also less intimidated by the vehicle operators who insist on sitting under my rear bumper, at the speed limit of 65mph/110km/h, even though those vehicle operators always have ways around.
The only drawback I found was that as you demonstrated, I was occasionally caught out in approaching situations quicker than I would have had more control of if I had known about & used the limiter.
Even though you should not drive fatigued using the limiter will show up signs of fatigue due to not being able to maintain a constant speed than if you are locked into cruise control where it is either on or off.
My usual drives are 200-400km round trips, along the Kwinana Freeway and Forrest Hwy between Perth, and Lake Clifton or Bunbury, Western Australia. The speed limits range between 80km/h & 110km/h.
I use both cruise control and speed limiter depending on the situation. On fast roads, I prefer the flexibility of Cruise Control, because if you need a bit more speed to pass someone changing lane badly, you can just press the accelerator, and return to your cruise speed by letting off again. If you need to lose speed, a slight touch of the brake will disengage it, and once the danger has cleared, you onl have to press the Resume button to re-engage and go back to your original cruise speed. Before I had a car with a speed limiter, I used to use cruise control in townIn town I prefer to use the speed limiter in town as well, but I felt I needed to be a lot more on the ball in that situation. Now I have a speed limiter, I use it a lot on busier urban roads, to make sure I can't speed, but again, I use the Cancel (Pause) and Resume buttons where the situation requires it.
I prefer cruise control for motorway driving but I use the limiter in built up areas so I don’t have worry about speeding and I feel I have more control with the limiter with slowing down and speeding up I don’t have to cancel and resume cruise all the time
I have cruise control, and I do use it. Possibly too much, but I’m working on that. Twice I have driven a loan car with a limiter when making long journeys, a Mercedes SUV and a Toyota Aygo, and I did use the limiter on urban roads in both cars.
I tend to use the limiter, mainly in places I'm not familiar with to avoid speeding fines etc.great videos top job 👍
Tend to use the limiter when driving in urban areas, just helps avoid speeding especially in the 20 mph zones; then the cruise control on the motorway.
Our only car with cruise control has the ability to hold the stalk to let off the throttle. I've used that to great effect when allowing bigger gaps, but at the same time I agree. I've driven 7+ hours without cruise and have been fine, but it's definitely good for stopping cramp lol.
Use both. Tend to use the cruise on motorways when conditions allow. I usually set the limiter in built up areas and temporary limits elsewhere.
I never turn my speed limiter off. As a young driver, I can't afford to get caught speeding, so I'll always have it set to the current speed limit. Even if I may be going slower than the limit, it's best to know when I do speed up that I won't go over the limit.
I’m a learner so still getting used to cruise control. When I’m on the highway or freeway sitting at 100km/h for a while, I’ll use cruise control bc I drove once without it and my ankle started to ache. All other situations, normal driving is fine for me
I use cruise control on motorways all the time, my right leg starts to ache otherwise. I also use it on long, lower speed sections so that again, my leg doesn't start to ache. However, when going through tricky zones such as school areas or generally busy areas, I keep my speed limiter on at about 5 below the speed limit so that I never exceed without realising. A lot of people tell me that cruise control on motorways makes them tired or complacent which I totally agree with but for me personally, I am a very alert driver regardless and cruise control helps me be comfortable and keep at a good, steady speed at any given time whether it's through roadworks or temporary speed limits such as between J13 and 16 on the M1. Plus, having cruise control on means you can divert more of your attention away from your speed and more towards what's going on ahead.
I use my limiter on my e class way more than the cruise and I have to press the kick down before it will disable. It’s good tech the Speed Limiter especially on crammed 50 limits on motorways as you can concentrate more on the surroundings without the fear of breaking the speed limit.
Great video and explained things really well. Your old car looks stunning, Ashley, and has obviously been well looked after.
My car has cruise control (CC) and Automatic Speed Limiter (ASL).
One obvious restriction with both systems is that they operate from the displayed speed of the car. That is not necessarily the actual ground speed of the car. My car is 5% optimistic at the speedometer, so a speed limit of 60 MPH can be obeyed even with the CC set to 63 MPH. So even if everybody drove at what they think is the speed limit, you will get people at different actual speeds! Very confusing.
I am guessing the speedometer on that Audi was badly broken, there was obviously a problem somewhere... perhaps in the nut behind the steering wheel?
CRUISE CONTROL (CC) - LOVE IT
I do use CC quite frequently, even in relatively busy areas, as it allows me to keep at the speed limit with no effort on the accelerator. However it does mean one has to be very aware of one's surroundings and be quick to knock the CC off or step on the brakes if a hazardous situation is coming up. Having one's foot at the brake pedal means a quicker start to braking if needed, so the safety is improved as long as the driver retains situational awareness. It's also great for long journeys, easing foot strain.
I first encountered CC on a manual car I owned previously, but the CC would knock off as soon as I depressed the clutch to change gear. CC is far more effective in my current automatic, with the ability to change gears without coming out of CC.
Not all cars have a nice, simple CC. On mine it's great: I just hit the UP button and the car will lock in to that speed. On others, there is quite a rigmarole to activating CC so I just don't bother.
The CC on my car doesn't touch the brakes, it just works by modulating the throttle. It's good in that, if I have temporarily overridden the cruise speed, when I lift off the car gradually decelerates back to the cruise speed rather than applying the brakes to slow down. It's bad in that, with cruise engaged, it is all to easy for the car to exceed the cruise setting when travelling down a slope - simply lifting off the throttle is not enough to keep the speed down. I will put the drive selector into Sport for those situations, so that the car chooses a lower gear ratio and keeps its speed down, or I will even manually change down a gear or two using the car's flappy paddles.
I did drive a hybrid Prius for a while: when going down a hill with the CC switched on, that car used regenerative braking to stock up on battery power and it simply maintained the same speed. That was a great feature.
There is also a special CC on my present car called All Surface Progress Control (ASPC). It operates at low speeds (2 mph to 19 mph) and is designed to maintain steady progress in slippery conditions and down slopes. That does use the brakes to slow the car when needed: very useful on a hill descent.
AUTOMATIC SPEED LIMITER (ASL) - HATE IT
I have tried ASL but hated the disconcerting feeling of pressing the gas pedal and having nothing happen. It's true that kickdown will allow the driver to override the ASL, but on my car if you use kickdown the car drops a couple of gears, the supercharger kicks in and then ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE while the rear tyres scream in protest and the scenery starts to blur. I did it once when my wife was in the car and I was still getting used to her (the car, not the wife). Not a drama that I'd want to repeat, for the sake of my wife's neck and for the sake of my ears afterwards!
With ASL one still has to do all the work on the gas pedal. If I am doing that anyway, I reckon there's not much point in the ASL as I'm maintaining progress at the speed limit without nanny interfering.
I can understand ASL being useful in average speed camera situations but I'd probably have to keep knocking it off to deal with developing situations around me. So I am not a fan.
YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).
When driving the freeways in USA I used Cruise Control ... much greater distances involved and few vehicles in the areas between cities. In the UK I am very much into using the Limiter - in all areas where possible ... even to the 20MPH around schools at certain times of the day.
Had had a number of cars with cruise control, agree with Ashley it can be a pain in busy traffic. Now I have a 2016 VW Golf with Adaptive cruise control it is a massive improvement over cruise control. As with all such devices they are an AID to good driving not a replacement for it. With good prediction when driving you can keep to set speed with ACC pulling out to overtake in good time. If you need to speed up to make the manoeuvre it is easy to do so by depressing the accelerator coming of brings you down to the pre-set speed or you can brake when needed, this dis-engages the ACC. Getting back on to set speed is as easy as pressing the RES button on the steering wheel. ACC is great in heavy traffic when you want to maintain speed the traffic is flowing at, just takes away some of the driving pressure. What does surprise me is a BMW M3 doesn't have adaptive cruise control, seems like a spec error on BMW's part. Do use speed limiter but only on roads with light traffic, ACC is the much more useful aid.
I tend to use the limiter most of the time whilst driving, setting it to the speed limit (or below in tricky weather conditions). As well as allowing to accelerate past it if needed, it also alerts me if I over speed going downhill. With speed limit, limit speed and current speed (gps measured) on my head up, it is easy to keep legal. Only used cruise on overnight motorway driving when there is no traffic.
I love using cruise control on the motorway. I do about 30k miles per year and my life is so much easier thanks to cruise control
Adam, I have to agree. Set the CC and it is one aspect of driving (speed limits) that you can forget, but you must read the road
I'm fortunate to have both limiter and cruise settings in my car, however I never use the limiter. I like to be in full control of the vehicle, especially at lower speeds. Managing my speed is part of my awareness which keeps me sharper and more alert to my surroundings.
Cruise control however is perfect for those long stretches of motorways with little to no traffic. The M58, which i'm sure viewers from the Wigan/Sefton areas can agree, gets pretty quiet outside rush hour traffic, and is perfect for using cruise control.
My current car doesn't have a limiter, but I use cruise control quite often (as long as there's not anyone in front of me at least). However I'm getting a new car soon that does have a limiter, so this video came at the perfect time for me.
As I don’t have speed limiter, I use cruise control a lot. I find it very convenient for setting at 30mph and motorway speeds. It should stop the driver going too fast and getting speeding tickets.
A good place for CC are the 30 and 40 areas, it means you don’t need to take your eyes off the road and if you have a tail-gatter you are not tempted to increase your speed.
I use cruise on motorways all the time. It is a bit too easy to lose track of pace in my car. I frequently do 300-ish mile journeys and I find a noticeable difference in tiredness at the end of that journey when I've been using the cruise. I don't really buy the notion that cruise should be an excuse for losing concentration: it's only managing the pace of your vehicle, not the ones around you.
As for the speed limiter: I've used it a few times, but I'm not really convinced that it works that well (in my car at least). In Scotland we have some long stretches of average speed checks, and I find it harder to modulate the throttle to keep the car on the ASL, than it is just to drive manually or set the cruise. As ever though, thanks for the food for thought
I use speed limiter most of the time, I use cruise control on multi lane highways with light traffic.
There can be a tendency not to slowdown at the correct time when approaching risk with cruise control enabled, I also believe it is illegal to use cruise in heavy traffic in some countries.
Regarding everyone driving at the same speed, for sure it would be safer, probably with less congestion as well, the closest we get to it here in the UK is probably variable speed limits on some motorways where it does reduce the concertina effect.
There must also be data on this from the US from when they had the 55 mile/hr speed limit across most of the country. I was driving over there at that time and can clearly remember multiple lanes of traffic all moving at the same speed.
Another benefit is of course is considerably reduced noise and air pollution.
I never used speed limiter until yesterday and I don't see myself using it much to be honest. I do see the use in it so it might just come down to getting used to it.
Cruise control however I really didn't use much at first mainly because of an incident which put me off from using it. On long stretches of motorway I would engage the cruise control, and when it was time to exit my feet were a bit numb so I messed up my gear shift so bad that it got stuck and would only go in reverse. A kind soul helped me push it off the road and into a parking spot where I got it fixed. But the incident sat with me for a long while until I tried using it again. Now I know to keep my feet moving all the time, and I also know that the movement of pedals will feel different after not using them for most of the drive.
Now I quite enjoy using the cruise control on the motorway. I set it at the lowest speed restriction we have in Denmark (110 km/h) and away I go.
I always use cruise control, whether it's 20 mph or 40.
Since i did the fuel efficiency cpc course i use it on every road whenever i can. Massive difference to my mpg using cruise control....surprising how many people have never used it.
I only have cruise control in my 2006 Ford Focus Ghia - I find it very useful and fuel efficient on motorways when there isn't much traffic, but more hassle than it's worth at busier times when I'm having to time lane changes etc
Driving in California I used the CC, _A Lot_. I lived in a rural area where it could be an hour or more between towns. Here in Germany I use the limiter a lot more than the CC. I find both help me keep my attention on the road, and not in the cockpit. I use the limiter on the Autobahn as you suggest, it works well. Only in very light conditions will I set the Cruise.
Never had a vehicle with a limiter, but I've been using cruise control for years. In my current car (VW) it's only useful in light traffic, as you say. But in my old car (Honda) the cruise control was simpler and worked better. Essentially if you pressed "decel" it instantly closed the throttle and car would slow using engine braking. If you pressed accel it instantly opened the throttle. This means you can make micro-adjustments and match your speed to vehicles around you. The VW one tries to be more clever and lock you to a specific mph, but that means you can never match your speed and end up having to turn it off if there is even moderate traffic around. Simpler is definitely better with cruise control.
In the absence of ACC I use the limiter when driving in major urban connurbations where there is a constant 30mph or 40mph limit. I use CC most of the time when traffic conditions allow. In my Skoda Kodiaq it is easy to adjust the CC and cancel it with a simple dab on the brakes, or a swipe of the lever on the stalk. Using CC also seems to give me much better fuel consumption
My cars both have Cruise control but not limiters. When I was driving vans with a limiter, I did like to use this, especially set to 25mph in built up/residential areas. I would use it in heavier traffic on dual carriegways and motorways too but most a cruise control person.
I actually never used speed limiter, but I do have an adaptive cruise control in my Audi which is super convenient and I use it all the time.
Speed limiter, I set it at 32 or 42 which gives a true 30 or 40 mph depending on the prevailing speed limit. I use it occasionally on 50 or 60 average speed check stretches. Adaptive speed control I rarely use and certainly not if the road conditions are anyhing like wet or busy., my right foot gives me far better control plus I can cater well in advance for any situations that may arise.
I too have a BMW and use the speed limiter all the time. Slow speeds and high speeds. Just about the change to a BMW with adaptive cruise, so we'll see how that works as well on longer, straigher, quiter roads.
I use adaptive CC and have choice of 1 or 5mph increments. 33mph indicated = 30mph on the road, still the cars stack up behind me. A safety point is you can leave your right foot over the brake thus saving reaction time.
I mostly use limiter as I mostly drive on single carriageway 'A' roads with 30, 40, 50 and 60 limits , on motorways and Dual carriageways I use cruise control if the traffic allows and I use limiter where the speed limits are not NSL regardless of traffic. I remember in the handbook of one car I owned it said cruise control shouldn't be used if the road is wet, it's also worth mentioning that the speed limiter will not stop you from going over the set speed down hill.
I've never used either, the good old foot does the trick!
Loved your reaction to the audi at 9:23 😄
I personally use cruise control quite a lot when it's available, and the car I currently drive doesn't have a speed limiter setting so I have not yet been able to try that, but I think I would still use cruise control mainly, just so that I can relax my right foot instead of having to keep a constant pressure.
What do I use?
In my car, I only have cruise control, and I use it quite a lot - even on urban 30mph roads if the conditions allow. Engaging cruise control stops the speed creeping up accidentally, and it's easy to hit the "cancel" button the moment you would take your foot off the accelerator if you weren't driving in cruise. In fact, I specifically chose the model of car that I have because at the time I bought it, it was one of the few small cars that had CC as an option.
In my van, I only have a limiter, which is set at 70. It was set that way when I bought it (used), and I could reprogram the ECU to remove the limit, but TBH, I like it as it is because I can use it as a "poor man's cruise control" on the motorway.
When I'm driving trucks, it's typically cruise control on motorways/dual carriageways (provided traffic is light enough), and limiter on single carriageways. On single carriageways you often can't maintain the limit (it's often a struggle to get up to the limit on rural A-roads), so the limiter is useful to allow me to concentrate on road conditions without having to worry about "am I speeding?" as well.
Use Adaptive Cruise Control (Volvo) when on longer distance cruising. Even works well on peak time.
You can unconsciously slow down when you are approaching slower vehicles from behind , then realise you are only doing 56MPH safely distanced behind a truck
Anecdotal and only from personal experience but I do think a set limit is far more stress free and safe. On a journey back from the South there were some temporary speed limits of 60mph and it went on for a very long time. It was the most stress free driving I have ever done. I didn't catch the car in front and the cars behind didn't catch me, just all sat (due to average cameras) at 60mph for mile after mile and it was just so relaxing. I didn't realise just how relaxed an environment it was until it went back to national limit and no average cameras and suddenly it was whacky races again. I for one would welcome average cameras on every motorway to keep people at 70mph, so much more relaxing and safe.
I used to use the limiter quite a lot in my old car, because it was very simple to activate.
In my new car, I have to fiddle on with a switch and press a few buttons (not the end of the world, but enough to cause a faff) - so I don’t really bother with it.
I use cruise control a lot on dual carriageways/motorways, and even a section of 40 mph limit near my home - as it’s pin straight and has absolutely no traffic lights for around 8 miles.
I also have adaptive cruise which I use sometimes, but I prefer to use standard cruise control more because I find it too easy to stop paying enough attention when using the adaptive system.
I use Adaptive Cruise Control (radar based with camera based lane detection) and find it works very well. I do have a limiter as an alternative but prefer not to use it. I can override, but that does not suit my driving style. I was also once caught out in Germany (about 15 years ago) when I had accidentally engaged the limiter on a Mercedes. It did not want to let me override and I struggled for a few seconds to figure out what was happening while trying to accelerate and failing.
An interesting video. I've had a few Skoda's with Cruise Control and found it great when on restricted motorways to save me from SPEC cameras. It can also be useful when towing my caravan, but only to a point. The problem is that once you are at speed, often someone will overtake and then slow down for no reason, which mean the CC is on/off/on/off/on/etc.
My last Skoda also had a speed limiter, but I just found it too complicated to use, so I just didn't bother. However, my new BMW 330e has a speed limiter which is so simple to use and I've found it a God send. I use it all the time to keep me within the limits and I can then concentrate on what's going on outside. Much better and of more use all round.
Hi Ashley, great informative video, thanks for explaining the use of the speed limiter and how you can over ride that function by pressing your accelerator down more , I really did not know that and have been reluctant in using the limiter. I Love driving and cannot understand the mentality of some drivers. Keep safe and have a great Christmas.
I don’t have any my private car, but I use the cruise control only for relaxing my right foot on longer highway travels when not much is going on in terms of speed limit change. In other situations, I don’t like it at all and prefer full control and not become (dangerously) bored.
Use the limiter everywhere just set it to the speed limit and drive accordingly. Cruise on anywhere where i know its a long stretch etc
I use Cruise a lot. I find it easy to switch off if I need more control for a short distance and it's always off for junctions as you suggest. I've never used the limiter because I was concerned about not having some extra power if I needed it but am assured that you can step out of it if needed. I might try it. Thanks for good advice and good sense.
My own car has limiter but no cruise. It's second hand, but because the cruise was a proper factory option (the previous owner just didn't spec it) I can still have it retrofitted at the main dealer for about £250. Have to say I'm quite tempted because I've had hire cars with cruise and it's great.
My dad's car has full adaptive cruise.
Speed limiter is cruise control when you have your foot down. I have it on all the time. Press the pedal even harder and it’s very easy to go beyond the set speed in case the speed limit rises or if I overtake. And, main point,no problems slowing down!
Very useful in heavy traffic. When it clears up, you accelerate and when the radar comes up you’re quite happy you didn’t allow yourself to accidentally go beyond the limit 😁
I use both , cruise control on motorway when permitted and then limiter when I come of the motorway to help stop me from speeding