With drivers increasingly relying on technology in modern cars, surprises occur while driving, due to neglecting periodic maintenance, including a malfunction in the cruise control, and the driver’s inability to stop the vehicle, which confuses him, and causes him to panic, fear, and misbehave.
Over the past few years, drivers have faced a number of cruise control failures at high speeds, one of which reached 160 km/h. Three separate cases occurred this year, in which drivers were surprised while driving on highways by their inability to stop the vehicle. However, the professionalism of police officers and traffic patrols in dealing with these types of cases prevented fatal accidents.
Incidents of cruise control failure while driving have raised questions about the responsibility of both the human element and the manufacturing agencies for the occurrence of the problem, as well as the responsibility of insurance companies to compensate those affected in the event of accidents resulting from a cruise control failure, in addition to the procedures that must be taken in such situations.
Experts and specialists had different opinions regarding the causes of cruise control failure. They confirmed that tampering with vehicle parts, misuse of the cruise control, and repair by non-specialists are among the causes of its sudden failure on the road. Others stressed the importance of conducting an investigation in each case to confirm whether the failure is due to manufacturing defects or human intervention.
At the beginning, the Director of the Traffic and Security Patrols Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police, Brigadier Mahmoud Yousef Al Balushi, stressed the need to ensure the efficiency of the cruise control, and to inform the concerned authorities in the event of discovering any defects or malfunctions in it, and to inform the operations room in the event of an emergency technical malfunction while the vehicle is in motion.
He told Al-Emarat Al-Youm: “We advise the driver to remain calm, not to panic when the cruise control malfunctions, to make sure to fasten the seat belt and turn on the warning lights and headlights, and to contact the Command and Control Centre in the Operations Department (the main operations room) on the emergency number 999, and explain the situation in detail.”
He called on drivers who encounter such situations to try to move the transmission to the (N) position, and then turn off the engine using the key for old vehicles, while for modern vehicles, the vehicle start button should be pressed continuously for a long time until the engine stops.
He explained that if the first step does not work, the transmission should be put in (N) position, and the brakes should be pressed with appropriate force continuously until the car stops. If the second step fails, the handbrake should be gradually released, while the steering wheel should be held firmly. If all these attempts fail, the driver should move the transmission between (N) and (D) positions continuously. However, if one of the previous methods succeeds before the patrol intervenes, the driver of the vehicle should stop the vehicle off the road and secure himself first, until the competent authorities arrive to deal with the situation. Last July, Abu Dhabi Police rescued a driver whose cruise control in his vehicle failed while driving at night on Al Shawamekh Road in Abu Dhabi.
She posted videos on her official account on the “X” website, revealing how the police patrol stopped a vehicle whose cruise control had broken down, as it maneuvered in front of the speeding car, positioned itself in front of it, and succeeded in stopping it.
Abu Dhabi Police patrols have been able to rescue drivers whose vehicles broke down on the roads over the past years, including a case on the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain road, where the vehicle was travelling at a speed of up to 160 kilometres per hour, posing a threat to road users. They dealt with these situations professionally, given the feeling that the driver may feel unable to control the vehicle.
Traffic expert Dr. Jamal Al-Amri stressed that regular maintenance of vehicle parts protects drivers from sudden breakdowns while driving on the road, including the vehicle’s cruise control, which has become one of the main and important tools in the vehicle, and is used by many, due to the advantages it adds to relieve the driver from the constant pressure on the gas pedal, especially on external and express roads.
Al-Amiri warned against repairing cruise control malfunctions by non-specialists and authorized persons, and against some people resorting to repairing it outside the dealerships, as “this behavior poses a danger to the driver’s life if the cruise control malfunctions while using it,” calling for repairing cruise control malfunctions by authorized dealers for these vehicles.
Al-Ameri stressed the importance of the driver remaining calm, dealing wisely when the cruise control malfunctions, and contacting the police to request support and assistance on the road.
He pointed out that the reasons for the cruise control failure vary from one car to another, but in general they revolve around some people tampering with the mechanical, electrical and electronic parts of the vehicle, by adding complementary parts to the engine, which may be unnecessary, and affect the electrical system and electronic readings in the vehicle’s computer, if they are installed by external shops other than the approved agencies, and not performing periodic maintenance on the car, or misusing the cruise control, which leads to damage to the internal wiring.
Al-Amiri advised against using cruise control on crowded roads, as it should not be disconnected and activated frequently, or during unstable weather conditions such as rain, dust and strong winds, as well as on uneven roads that require reducing speed and applying the brakes, in addition to being alert and attentive while driving, and being prepared to apply the brakes in the event of any emergency.
For his part, the head of the technical committee of the Gulf Insurance Federation, Bassam Adeeb Gilmiran, said that the responsibility in the event of an accident resulting from a malfunction of the cruise control device or any mechanical defect related to the manufacture of the car, falls on the insurance company, and in the case of comprehensive insurance, compensation is usually paid to the insured, according to the terms of the insurance policy.
But after paying compensation, the insurance company can exercise the right of “recourse” or “claim compensation” from the party responsible for the defect, which is often the agent or the manufacturer.
Gilmiran explained that “this procedure is known as the concept of ‘recourse’, where the insurance company seeks to recover the amount paid from the party responsible for the defect, and this is usually done through legal claims or agreements with the agency or manufacturer.”
He explained that in the case of third-party insurance on cars, the coverage includes damages to the third party only, as a result of an accident caused by the insured car.
He added: “The insurance company is responsible for compensating for damages in the event of an accident due to a malfunction in the cruise control device or any other manufacturing defect (such as car repair, medical expenses, or compensation for bodily injury), regardless of the cause of the malfunction.
“As for compensation for damage to the insured’s vehicle (the owner of the vehicle that caused the accident) or any physical injuries he sustained, this is not covered by the insurance, to compensate the owner of the vehicle that caused the accident for any damage resulting from a mechanical failure or manufacturing defect, and the person needs to seek other legal means, such as filing a lawsuit against the manufacturer or agent, if it is proven that the defect was the cause of the accident,” he added. He pointed out that in the event of a physical injury or death resulting from an accident resulting from a malfunction of the cruise control device, or any other mechanical failure, the process follows similar steps, but with additional details, due to the seriousness of the situation and its legal complexities.
He explained that there are three cases in the issue of compensation in cruise control accidents, the first is the initial compensation from the insurance company: The insurance company usually bears the primary responsibility for paying compensation to the injured or the family of the deceased, depending on the type of insurance policy, and this compensation can cover medical expenses, loss of income, or compensation for death, according to the applicable insurance laws. The second is the right of recourse: After paying compensation, if it is proven that the cause of the accident was a manufacturing defect or mechanical failure, the insurance company can exercise the right of “recourse” again against the manufacturer or agent. The company files a lawsuit or submits a claim to recover the amounts it paid from the company responsible for the failure. The third is related to legal issues: In some cases, especially if the accident resulted in death or serious bodily injuries, the injured or their families can file direct lawsuits against the agency or manufacturer to claim additional compensation for damages (such as pain and suffering, or loss of breadwinner). These lawsuits are known as “product liability cases.”
For his part, Dr. Jihad Fitroni, a university lecturer in the field of risks and artificial intelligence, said: “Car manufacturers are competing to invent systems capable of assisting the driver while driving, to increase the level of comfort and luxury. One of the most important driver assistance systems in our time is the cruise control system, which is widely used while traveling and driving on external roads, to provide the driver with comfort and not have to step on the gas pedal for a long time.
He explained that the way the cruise control works is easy. It is an electronic system that allows the driver to set the car’s speed at a certain limit without having to use the accelerator pedal. This means that the driver can lift his foot off the accelerator pedal so that the cruise control can maintain the car’s set speed. This in turn reduces foot fatigue and physical pressure, especially when driving long distances.
He added, “There is another type called the interactive cruise control in the car, and the difference between it and the traditional cruise control is not big, as both of them stabilize the car’s speed, but the interactive one increases or slows it down according to the speed of the vehicle in front, thus maintaining a safe distance between the two cars.” Fitroni explained that “the benefit of this system is not limited to the physical comfort of the driver while driving, but extends to include saving fuel consumption, as driving at a constant speed instead of repeatedly decreasing and increasing the speed does not require generating more energy each time. Thus, the car’s engine maintains a certain number of cycles.” He added that driving using cruise control saves fuel by 10-15%.
Fitroni stressed that correct use protects the driver from the risks of cruise control, explaining that incorrect use may cause the vehicle to deviate from its path, and lead to traffic accidents and dangerous skidding.
• 3 cruise control malfunctions occurred this year.
5 Key Factors to Consider When Using Cruise Control
1- Traffic congestion: Using cruise control in this case will be annoying, because the driver will have to activate it after each brake, which distracts attention and focus while driving, as traffic congestion forms during rush hours, forcing the driver to drive at low speeds, or sometimes to a complete stop.
2- Sharp turns: The purpose of cruise control is to use it on external roads, and when driving at high speeds, not to use it on roads with sharp turns, which require driving at low speeds, and reducing speed before reaching the turn.
3- Attention: The possibility of an error occurring will remain, no matter how advanced the electronic systems are, and this applies to cruise control. An error may occur in the system’s operation, so you must pay attention to the road while stabilizing the speed to avoid any problems or traffic accidents.
4- Rain: It is not recommended to use cruise control on wet roads and during rain, because the speed control standards and requirements for increasing or decreasing it will change, and will be governed by several matters that the system does not usually take into account.
5- Adherence to the specified speed: It is necessary to adhere to the specified speed of the road, whether the car is driven using cruise control or in manual mode.
