Cruise control is a vehicle system that automatically maintains a speed set by the driver without requiring constant pressure on the accelerator pedal. Simply put, you set your desired speed once, and the car keeps it steady until you take control again.
What Is Cruise Control Used For?
The primary purpose of cruise control is to reduce driver fatigue on long journeys. Without the need to keep your foot on the accelerator the entire time, driving becomes less physically tiring. It also allows you to focus more on the road instead of maintaining a constant speed, which can improve overall driving safety.
Cruise control is especially useful:
- on highways with speed limits, where it’s easy to exceed the limit unintentionally;
- during long-distance trips, when fatigue gradually builds up;
- in steady traffic with minimal lane changes and braking.
How to Use Cruise Control
How do you turn on cruise control? Just follow these simple steps:
- Accelerate to your desired speed (most systems activate at speeds of around 30–40 km/h or 20–25 mph).
- Press ON to switch the system on.
- Press SET to lock in your current speed.
- Adjust the speed if needed using the + or − buttons.
- Press CANCEL or lightly tap the brake pedal to temporarily deactivate cruise control.
- To return to your previously saved speed, press RES. This is especially useful if you had to slow down because of slower traffic ahead.
How Cruise Control Works
To understand how cruise control works, it helps to look at what goes on behind the scenes. A conventional cruise control system is built around an electronic control unit connected to the throttle (or, in modern vehicles, to the electronic throttle control system). The control unit continuously reads data from the wheel speed sensors and compares the vehicle’s actual speed with the target speed. It increases engine power when climbing uphill and reduces throttle input when going downhill to maintain a constant speed.
Fun fact: Cruise control was invented by engineer Ralph Teetor in the 1940s, and the first production cars equipped with the system appeared in the late 1950s. Today, it is a standard feature in almost every new vehicle, from affordable compact cars to premium SUVs. If you’re looking for a car with cruise control, you’ll find thousands of listings from trusted sellers across various price ranges on Autoline.
It’s also worth mentioning the more advanced version – adaptive cruise control (ACC) – which is now common in most modern premium vehicles. In addition to maintaining a set speed, it uses radar, cameras, or other sensors to monitor the distance to the vehicle ahead, automatically slowing down or accelerating as traffic conditions change. Many systems can also provide lane-keeping assistance and other driver-support features.
What to Do If Your Cruise Control Isn’t Working
If your cruise control won’t engage or switches off unexpectedly while driving, it’s almost always a sign of a fault that should be diagnosed as soon as possible.
Common causes of cruise control failure:
- a faulty brake light switch – the system assumes the driver is braking and disables cruise control;
- problems with the wheel speed sensors;
- damaged wiring or faulty connectors in the control unit;
- a malfunctioning cruise control switch on the steering wheel;
- on vehicles with adaptive cruise control, a dirty or damaged radar or camera sensor.
In most cases, the exact cause can be identified with an OBD scanner. The system stores an error code, which significantly narrows down the search for the fault.