Use cruise control only when fully awake and attentive on road

Cruise control is not auto pilot, do not use if you feel tired or sleepy. It's not ADAS with emergency braking or autopilot of any sort. Those who do long trips on single run are advised to use cruise control only when fully awake and attentive on road. 

Use cruise control only to rest your feet, but not your brain because if you aren't fully awake or aware you might react to emergency braking situations too late and that can be catastrophic. Make sure your feet is resting in a way, to naturally approach brake instead of close to accelerator.

There are some beautiful wide and 4/6 lane highways that you can enjoy with cruise control. But that doesnt protect you from accidents. On the contrary, it makes you more susceptible to it. The less control you have over vehicle, the more attentive you should be. 

Your biggest enemy when using cruise control is gaps in medians on highways while approaching city/ village limits. Wandering cattles especially the ones which are allowed to graze on vegetation in the median dividers are a potential risk with cruise control engaged. 

Panicking/ overreacting and flooring the accelerator instead of brake or hard swerving or not reacting at all can be fatal. 

To overcome fatigue park at a filling station or an eatery away from the highway, take a powernap for 20 - 30 minutes and again start driving thereafter. 

Courtesy: Venkatesh Balasubramani 

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* Indian Roadie Safe Driving Tips 

* Indian Roadie Knowledge Hub