New cars are increasingly better equipped thanks to advances in the automotive industry. ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistant Systems) systems have emerged as key components in making driving safer and more efficient. One of the most notable examples of these advances is the cruise control system, which allows you to maintain a constant speed without using the accelerator.
In addition to maintaining a previously set speed, cruise control adds another functionality: it is designed to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. This is because the system uses sensors and detection technologies to constantly monitor the distance to the vehicle in front of us.
These features make cruise control a very practical tool for driving on highways and expressways. However, the system is not efficient in urban centers, where speeds are more variable, which is why in most cases it only works above 30 km/h.
To put the speed control into operation you have to activate some controls on the steering wheel when the car reaches the desired speed that we want to maintain. Once the speed is configured, we can increase or decrease it at our convenience, taking into account that if we press the brake or clutch pedal, the system will be automatically deactivated.
The most sophisticated systems, which are normally fitted to high-end cars, have the ability to automatically adapt the speed as the road speed limits change. Using a camera that detects speed signs, adaptive cruise control dynamically adjusts the vehicle’s speed to ensure it stays within legal limits.
Manufacturers assure that speed control, in addition to being a system that allows you to drive in a more relaxed manner and avoid fatigue when resting your legs, contributes to saving fuel by maintaining the car at a constant speed while the system is activated. But is it really like that? Is it a myth or is it a reality?
A study carried out by Natural Resources Canada, cited by the automotive firm Kia on its blog, ensures that cruise control can help save between 7 and 14% of fuel when a car is traveling at a constant speed. To carry out the test, the researchers compared the consumption of a car with the cruise control activated and made the same trip without the help of this driving assistance system.
The result of the study was conclusive. The vehicle consumed 20% more gasoline when the car’s speed fluctuated between 47 and 53 mph (75 to 85 km/h) every 18 seconds to calibrate the cruise control to 50 mph (80 km/h). At a time like the current one, in which the price of fuel is once again approaching the all-time high of a year ago, there is no doubt that cruise control can mean considerable savings for the pockets of drivers who have this ADAS in your vehicle, especially if you travel hundreds of kilometers.
However, it should be noted that cruise control is only effective in saving fuel when used on flat roads free of traffic congestion or even on uphill or downhill routes. However, when driving on constantly changing slopes or on steep slopes, it is recommended to disable the function.
