Ford Transit vans come with cruise control to help make driving such a large vehicle easier. This is an amazing feature for any vehicle to have, especially on something like a Ford Transit. It is also very easy to use and easily accessible for when you are driving and need to focus on the road.
This is an amazing feature for a vehicle like a Ford Transit, especially since it is often used as a commercial vehicle. It helps drivers stay safe as they drive long distances, oftentimes with few breaks.
The cruise control setting helps to make driving a Ford Transit safer as well as making it easier overall. It is a great feature that many Ford Transit drivers utilize regularly.
XL and XLT Variants Have Adaptive Cruise Control
The Ford Transit comes with the option of having cruise control on all of its models. The XL and XLT variants also come with the option of adding adaptive cruise control to those models.
The cruise control option comes with two modes, a simple set speed, and the other is a speed limit. This is extremely useful for those who drive their Ford Transit vans for long periods of time.
This may not necessarily be a necessity but it certainly is a convenient option. Especially if you are already looking at the option of adding features onto your Ford Transit.
Cruise control is a system that is designed to maintain a fixed speed which is set by the driver. It removes the need for accelerator pedal input and keeps the van going at that set speed.
This is ideal for when you are driving for long hours or along a long stretch of straight road. It is also a way to offset the effects of driving fatigue, which is one of the main causes of overspeeding.
This can be a great feature to take some of the pressure off of the driver as the vehicle will stay at the right speed. This does not mean that the driver is no longer necessary, however.
Cruise control only controls speed, it cannot sense the need to stop or slow down. It will also not sense when the vehicle is getting too close to another vehicle. The driver still has to be steering the vehicle and press the brake.
How to Use Ford Transit Cruise Control
Using the cruise control on a Ford Transit is very simple and straightforward. It does not take a lot of time or practice, and you can stick to one set speed limit.
When you turn the cruise control off, it will not delete or erase the set speed you have created. So it will resume once you turn on the cruise control again. This makes it easier as you do not have to program it multiple times for the same speed.
Here is how you use the Ford Transit cruise control to set the speed limit amongst other functions.
Turning On Cruise Control
You will need to start by turning on the cruise control then you can begin to drive to the desired speed. Once you get to that speed, press SET+ or SET-.
Then you will need to take your foot off of the accelerator pedal to let the cruise control take over the speed limit.
Changing Speed Limit
To change the speed limit set on your cruise control, you will need to press SET+ or SET- to slowly change the speed limit.
Speed up the vehicle until you reach the desired speed limit and hit the SET button again.
Canceling Cruise Control Speed Limit
To cancel the cruise control speed limit that you have set, you will need to push CNCL or tap on the brake. This will only stop the cruise control from controlling the speed, it will not erase the set speed.
The Cruise Control is on the Steering Wheel
The Ford Transit vans are designed to be incredibly user-friendly and easy to use no matter who is driving. This is why the cruise control is located on the steering wheel in an easy to access area.
It is located on the left of the steering wheel, where you will usually see the buttons. There will usually be an ON button, SET+ and SET- buttons for different purposes.
The instructional above should help you understand how to use these individual buttons.
The cruise control on a Ford Transit has been placed on the steering wheel so that it can be easily accessed. This way, you can turn on and set cruise control without being hindered while driving.
If it were located somewhere else, it could become a distraction to set while on the road. This was considered in the design as many drivers will be setting the cruise control as they are driving.
Cruise Control Usually Makes Driving Safer
One of the biggest benefits of using the cruise control system is that it usually makes driving safer. This is not necessarily a safety function but rather a system to make driving easier on the driver.
Because cruise control can set your speed and remove the need to watch it yourself, it can help you not over speed. This is especially useful for those who use their van for work-related purposes.
It can help to reduce speeding as well as driving fatigue-related speeding. Many drivers tend to speed as they drive for longer amounts of time. This is usually the result of driving fatigue as your concentration reduces.
Cruise control can make it safer to drive for longer periods of time without the risk of overspeeding on the road. There are downsides to using cruise control, however as it:
- Is not as safe as many might believe as it can mess with a driver’s concentration while driving. It can actually make drivers’ fatigue worse by removing the need to concentrate as hard while driving.
- Is a simple system and cannot tell when it needs to slow down. It will go at the set speed limit no matter what is going on around you.
This could result in car accidents, accidents in bad weather, or taking turns and driving on hills far too fast. This is why the driver must maintain concentration and still control the vehicle.
Cruise control should never be trusted to operate the vehicle on its own as the driver is still very much necessary.
Pros and Cons of Cruise Control
Despite cruise control’s usefulness, it does have plenty of downsides to consider. Some of which we have already touched briefly on.
Though this is a very handy system that could help you drive safer and longer, there are some dangers to consider. This system has pros and cons that every driver should be aware of.
If you are looking to add this feature to your Ford Transit, there are some things that you should know first. You will want to make sure you know and understand how cruise control works before getting it added to your Ford Transit.
As long as you understand how cruise control should and shouldn’t be used, it is a perfectly safe feature.
Pros
- It can help you to control your speed better to avoid going over the speed limit. This is very handy, especially if you have been driving for a long time or are driving on a long stretch of road.
- Using cruise control helps to better control your fuel engine uses and reduces gas wasted from acceleration. This helps improve your fuel economy and save your gas as you drive.
- The system can make driving long distances much more comfortable. You do not have to constantly focus on your speed and can just enjoy the drive itself.
- You can sit more relaxed without having your foot on the acceleration pedal at all times. This can alleviate soreness and stiffness from driving.
- This can be a great feature on straight roads where you often tend to go over the speed limit as it will keep you in check.
Cons
- Using cruise control can actually negatively affect your reaction time while driving. It can put you too much at ease and allow for a lack of concentration as you are driving.
- Reports have shown that cruise control can also create more drowsiness in drivers, taking away some of their concentration. This can lead to accidents on the road as the driver is not as aware as they should be.
- Using cruise control can also affect your reaction to braking, making you more likely to have a collision. Not having to watch your speed can take away your awareness and make your braking time much slower.
- Using cruise control in bad weather can become a significant safety hazard as you cannot control the speed as well. Cruise control will not slow down around ice, snow, or water, which can be dangerous.
- Cruise control can make turning dangerous as it will continue going at the set speed. This can result in you taking a turn too quickly and having an accident or damaging your vehicle.
- Cruise control makes it much more likely that you could lose control of your vehicle.
Never Use Cruise Control in Bad Weather
One rule that everyone should follow when using cruise control, is that it should never be used in bad weather. It is not meant to be used in bad weather and can actually become quite a danger to drivers.
Cruise control is a very simple system and is not adaptive unless you get one of the models of Ford Transit that have adaptive cruise control. Most systems are not adaptive, however, and will only set your speed limit.
Cruise control will not slow down to avoid puddles of water or icy roads. It will not take turns slower or drive more cautiously through snow and sleet.
This is why cruise control can become a danger if used in poor weather as it lacks caution. Even if the driver is completely aware, they will end up fighting the cruise control to control the vehicle’s speed.
This is why it is not recommended to use cruise control when driving in poor conditions or bad weather. It stops being an extra layer of safety and becomes a risk to everyone in the vehicle.
If you decide to have cruise control added to your Ford Transit, make sure you read the owner’s manual before using it. This will tell you everything you need to know about cruise control and how to not use it.
Make sure you follow its instruction as those rules are there for a reason and can help to keep you safe.
Ford Transit Vans Are Considered to be Safe
Ford Transit vans are considered to be relatively safe vehicles and have a four-star rating out of five for crash protection. They also have a five-star rating for side protection.
This makes the Ford Transit a pretty safe vehicle to drive, especially if you have added safety features added to the van. They have a long list of potential safety features that customers can have added to their new vehicle.
One safety concern for Ford Transits is that they have a greater risk of rolling over. This is especially true for the high roof models.
This is a danger that all large vehicles have as they are less balanced and can tip over more easily. This is why you must learn how to drive a van properly and not be too rough when driving.
Other than that, there are a few great safety concerns with the Ford Transit vans. They have pretty great reviews for being dependable and safe vehicles.
Anyone Can Drive a Ford Transit
Anyone can drive a Ford Transit van if they want to, it does not require any special skills or training. You don’t even need a special driver’s license, just a car license.
Despite the large size of a Ford Transit, they are really very easy to drive compared to other large vans. They may look intimidating, but they are generally considered to be user-friendly.
With just a little bit of practice, anyone can master the art of driving one in no time at all. It is much easier than many people would ever think by looking at the vehicle itself.
You do not need to take any classes or learn any special skills, you don’t even need to have any experience driving a large vehicle. As long as you have some driving experience and understand the basic principles, you can drive a Ford Transit.
They are just like any other vehicle and are actually designed to feel much more like a smaller vehicle than a commercial van. This is part of why the Ford Transit models are so popular despite being light commercial vans.
People love the versatility and ease of this vehicle and often buy them for their day-to-day driving needs. A Ford Transit provides the best of both worlds between size and usability.
Overall, this is a very user-friendly van that anyone can get used to driving with a little practice. Though it is easy to navigate, it is a good idea to first practice driving it before hitting a busy road.
You can practice in an empty parking lot or long driveway, this will give you just enough experience to feel more confident.