What does 'cruise' displayed on the car mean?
2 Answers
cruise refers to the car's electronic cruise control system. Generally, when the vehicle speed exceeds 20km/h, pressing the cruise button will activate the cruise control mode, where the engine computer automatically controls the speed without the need to press the accelerator pedal. The driver only needs to steer the wheel. When the green cruise indicator light on the dashboard illuminates, it indicates that the cruise control switch is now activated. Below is a detailed classification of cruise functions: 1. Speed Cruise Control: This is the most common type. The basic operation involves activating the cruise mode and then selecting the desired speed, allowing the driver to release the accelerator pedal while maintaining the set speed. The speed can be adjusted using control buttons (or levers) during driving. To cancel the cruise setting, simply press the brake or turn off the cruise switch. 2. Speed Limiter Cruise: This is very similar to speed cruise control, with the key difference being that after setting the speed limit, the driver must keep their foot on the accelerator pedal to maintain the set speed. Once the set speed is reached, the computer automatically determines the required fuel supply. Unless the accelerator is pressed deeply and quickly, slight increases in the accelerator will have no effect. 3. Adaptive Cruise Control: The most notable feature of adaptive cruise control is the addition of radar or infrared detectors, giving the cruise system 'artificial intelligence.' It helps the driver maintain higher safety in conditions like fog or sandstorms and can perform advanced driving tasks such as following another vehicle, similar to an experienced driver.
As a new car owner, I was quite confused when I saw the 'cruise' light on the dashboard, but later learned it means the cruise control system is activated. It mainly helps automatically maintain your speed, which is especially useful for long highway drives—once you set the speed, you can take your foot off the accelerator, and the car will maintain a steady pace. The operation is usually simple: press a button on the steering wheel to activate it, then use the +/- buttons to adjust speed; to cancel, just hit the brake or press the cancel button. But a word of caution—don’t use this feature in city traffic jams, as it won’t automatically brake, posing a high risk of rear-end collisions. For beginners, I recommend practicing first on open highway sections to get familiar with it, ensuring safety comes first. Some advanced models even have adaptive cruise control that adjusts speed based on the car ahead, but the basic version is usually sufficient. Overall, this little feature makes driving easier, but don’t overuse it to avoid accidents.
