The Downsides of Cruise Control: What Drivers Should Know

Cruise control can reduce driver engagement, slow reaction times, struggle in bad weather or hilly terrain, misbehave in dense traffic, and add repair costs—especially with adaptive systems—if sensors need calibration. While it eases fatigue on long, steady drives, safety agencies and researchers caution that overreliance can lead to inattention and misuse, particularly on slippery roads, in work zones, or when speed limits change frequently. Here’s what the data and real-world experience show about the trade-offs.

Safety and Attention Trade-offs

Experts emphasize that both conventional and adaptive cruise control (ACC) are driver-assistance features—not substitutes for attentive driving. Studies from groups including the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have found that drivers using ACC tend to set higher speeds, and human-factors research (such as MIT AgeLab) shows automation can increase mind wandering and lengthen response times when intervention is needed.

• Reduced vigilance: With speed control outsourced, drivers can become “out of the loop,” which is linked to slower reactions during sudden hazards.
• Longer response time: Returning to manual control after automation can add critical fractions of a second in emergencies.
• Complacency and overtrust: Assistance systems can create a false sense of security, encouraging riskier choices like higher set speeds.
• Drowsiness risk: Monotony plus automation can increase fatigue or micro-sleeps on long, featureless highways.
• Following distance misunderstandings: ACC gaps may be set too short by drivers, or feel too long for surrounding traffic, creating merge conflicts and cut-ins.

Taken together, these human-factor issues don’t make cruise control unsafe by default, but they do shift some risk from physical workload to vigilance—raising the stakes if attention slips.

Performance Limits in Weather, Terrain, and Traffic

Conditions matter. Cruise control works best on dry, straight, lightly trafficked highways. In adverse weather or complex traffic patterns, it can behave in ways that surprise drivers or reduce vehicle stability.

• Slippery surfaces: On rain, snow, or ice, maintaining a fixed speed can break traction or prolong wheelspin; most manufacturers advise against use in low-traction conditions.
• Hydroplaning hazard: Throttle to maintain speed during standing water can worsen loss of control.
• Hilly terrain “hunting”: Conventional systems may surge or downshift aggressively to hold speed, which can feel jerky and be less efficient.
• Curvy roads: Speed held constant into bends can feel too fast, especially on decreasing-radius turns or off-ramps.
• Dense stop-and-go: Even stop-and-go ACC can lurch, brake late for cut-ins, or struggle to restart smoothly, increasing stress and brake wear.
• Downhill overspeed: Older/basic systems may allow speed creep on steep descents; not all vehicles apply engine braking or friction brakes to maintain the set speed.
• Speed-limit changes and special zones: It won’t automatically adapt to school zones, work zones, or variable limits unless your vehicle has reliable traffic-sign recognition—and even then, driver oversight is essential.

In short, the more dynamic the environment—weather, grades, curves, or traffic—the more likely cruise control will need frequent overrides or create counterproductive behavior.

Technology-Specific Drawbacks (Adaptive and Assisted Systems)

Adaptive cruise control adds sensors and software that can maintain gaps to vehicles ahead, and some systems integrate with lane centering. These features improve comfort but introduce new failure modes and edge cases.

• Phantom braking: Sudden, unnecessary slowdowns can occur due to misidentified shadows, overpasses, or roadside objects; this is a widely reported issue across brands and has drawn regulatory scrutiny.
• Cut-in conflicts: Lane changes by other drivers can trigger abrupt braking or ping-pong speed adjustments, startling following traffic.
• Sensor limitations: Snow, ice, road grime, sun glare, or misaligned cameras/radars can degrade detection or disable the system mid-trip.
• Stationary object detection: Some ACC systems are conservative about braking for stopped objects at higher speeds, expecting driver intervention.
• Towing and trailers: Systems may be disabled when towing or may react unpredictably to trailer dynamics; many automakers advise caution or deactivation.
• System handoffs: Interactions with lane-centering or traffic-jam assistants can lead to ambiguous responsibility at system limits, demanding rapid driver takeover.

These are manageable with vigilance, but they underscore that advanced cruise control still requires continuous supervision and readiness to override.

Cost, Maintenance, and Practical Considerations

Beyond driving dynamics, cruise-control hardware—particularly adaptive systems—can add cost and complexity in ownership and repairs.

• Calibration costs: After windshield or bumper repairs, camera/radar recalibration is often required; typical out-of-pocket ranges run roughly $300–$1,500 depending on vehicle and procedure.
• Higher repair bills: Minor collisions that previously affected only cosmetic parts can now involve sensor replacement and alignment, increasing claim totals.
• Brake wear in traffic: ACC that relies on frequent braking to maintain gaps in urban driving can increase brake cycling compared with skilled human coasting.
• Fuel/energy penalties on hills: Holding exact speed up grades can be less efficient than allowing small speed variations; EV drivers may also see reduced coasting efficiency depending on settings.
• Towing strain: Trying to hold speed while towing on climbs can induce gear hunting and heat buildup; many manufacturers advise caution or avoidance in mountainous terrain.
• Comfort issues: Oscillating accelerate-brake behavior can cause motion sickness for some passengers.

These aren’t universal deal-breakers, but they are real costs and trade-offs that can show up at service time or in daily drivability.

When to Avoid or Limit Cruise Control

Drivers can mitigate many drawbacks by choosing when not to use cruise control. The following scenarios commonly warrant caution or avoidance.

• Rain, snow, ice, or heavy spray; standing water that can cause hydroplaning.
• Winding roads with limited sightlines or sharp curves.
• Heavy urban traffic, work zones, and school zones.
• Steep grades or mountainous terrain, especially when towing or carrying heavy loads.
• When fatigued or drowsy—automation can mask impairment until a crisis.
• When sensors are obscured by grime, ice, or snow.

Exercising restraint in these conditions keeps the driver—not the system—firmly in charge when margins are thin.

How to Use It More Safely If You Choose To

On suitable roads, you can reduce risk with a few practical habits. These tips don’t eliminate all negatives but can improve outcomes.

• Choose larger following gaps in ACC to reduce abrupt braking and cut-in surprises.
• Keep hands on the wheel and right foot poised to cover the brake; be ready to disengage instantly.
• Monitor changing limits; don’t “set and forget” through variable or special zones.
• Use eco or gentle response modes when available to limit surge and improve efficiency.
• Clean cameras and radar covers; ensure proper calibration after glass or bumper work.
• Anticipate terrain: lower set speed before curves and descents; consider manual control on steep grades.
• Keep software updated per manufacturer guidance to address known issues like phantom braking.

These strategies help retain the comfort benefits of cruise control while curbing the most common downsides.

Summary

Cruise control excels at steady-speed highway travel but carries meaningful drawbacks: reduced driver engagement and slower reactions, poor performance in slippery or complex conditions, technology quirks like phantom braking, and added repair/calibration costs. Used judiciously—on dry, open highways, with attentive supervision and conservative settings—it can be a comfort aid. Used indiscriminately, it can erode safety margins and increase costs. The safest approach is to treat cruise control as a convenience feature, not a substitute for active driving.

Is cruise control bad for your engine?

No, cruise control is not bad for your engine; in fact, it’s beneficial for long-term engine health and fuel efficiency. Cruise control reduces unnecessary acceleration and deceleration, which are the main causes of engine wear and tear. By maintaining a steady speed, your engine operates more smoothly, resulting in less stress on its components. 
How Cruise Control Benefits Your Engine

• Reduces Wear and Tear: Opens in new tabConstant acceleration and deceleration from manual pedal control cause more stress on the engine and driveline. Cruise control helps to avoid this by maintaining a consistent speed. 
• Improves Fuel Efficiency: Opens in new tabBy keeping a steady pace, cruise control helps your car use fuel more efficiently, which can lead to less engine wear in the long run. 
• Smoother Engine Operation: Opens in new tabA constant speed allows the engine to run on a smooth cadence, promoting more consistent operation and less strain. 

When to Be Cautious
While not bad for the engine itself, there are certain situations where using cruise control might pose a risk: 

• Adverse Weather Conditions: Avoid using cruise control in heavy rain, snow, or icy conditions, as any unexpected acceleration on a slippery surface can lead to a loss of control. 
• Congested Roads: Cruise control is best suited for long, open stretches of highway. 
• Manual Transmission Vehicles: In a manual transmission, using cruise control on inclines can force the engine to strain in a higher gear to maintain speed, which could lead to increased wear, notes one Reddit thread. 

Is cruise control really worth it?

Conclusion: Using cruise control can be beneficial for fuel efficiency and reducing fatigue on long, straight drives, particularly on highways. However, it should be avoided in heavy traffic, adverse weather, or complex driving scenarios where constant speed adjustments are necessary.

What are the disadvantages of cruise control?

The main disadvantages of cruise control include reduced driver vigilance, which can lead to slower reaction times and increased distraction or drowsiness. It can also impair a driver’s ability to control the vehicle in dynamic situations, such as changing lanes or navigating hills, and may increase the risk of accidents in poor weather conditions or on winding roads. 
Reduced Driver Engagement and Awareness 

• Decreased situational awareness: Opens in new tabCruise control can lull a driver into a passive state, making them less attentive to the road and surrounding traffic conditions. 
• Increased risk of drowsy driving: Opens in new tabThe monotonous nature of maintaining a constant speed can lead to fatigue and drowsiness, increasing the risk of accidents. 
• Distracted driving: Opens in new tabWith one less task to focus on, drivers may become more prone to other distractions or “zone out,” leading to a lack of focus on the road. 

Impaired Vehicle Control 

• Delayed reaction times: Disengaging cruise control and regaining manual control of the vehicle can introduce a delay in responding to sudden changes or hazards. 
• Challenges on hills: On steep inclines, cruise control may make the engine work harder, increasing fuel use and stress on components, while on declines it might allow the car to speed up unintentionally. 
• Problems on winding roads: The system’s sensors or cameras may struggle on sharp curves, leading to unexpected deceleration or acceleration. 

Safety Risks in Certain Conditions

• Adverse weather: Opens in new tabCruise control should not be used in rain, snow, or icy conditions, as it is less effective at maintaining a consistent speed and can lead to a loss of control when the driver tries to brake or steer. 
• Poor visibility: Opens in new tabIn bad weather or at night, sensors and cameras on adaptive cruise control systems can be impaired, leading to incorrect speed adjustments. 

Is it better to have cruise control on or off?

Cruise control is best used on long drives where the speed limit remains the same over much of the distance. It’s great for low to no traffic situations where you don’t need to change or adjust speed often.