Editing Cruise control (section)

==Operation==
[[File:Tempomat Cruise Control IMG 20170712 182317674.jpg|thumb|Cruise control unit in the speedometer-cable and vacuum valve]]
[[File:Tempomat Cruise Control IMG 20170712 182537172.jpg|thumb|Cruise control throttle servo]]
The driver must manually bring the vehicle up to speed and use a button to set the cruise control to the current speed, except in the case of [[adaptive cruise control]].

The cruise control takes its speed signal from a rotating [[driveshaft]], [[speedometer]] cable, [[wheel speed sensor]] from the engine's [[revolutions per minute |RPM]], or internal speed pulses produced electronically by the vehicle. Most systems do not allow the use of the cruise control below a certain speed - typically around {{convert|25 or 30|mph|0|abbr=on}}. The vehicle will maintain the desired speed by pulling the [[throttle]] cable with a [[solenoid]], a [[vacuum]]-driven [[servomechanism]], or by using the electronic systems built into the vehicle (fully electronic) if it uses a 'drive-by-wire' system.

All cruise control systems must have the capability to be turned off explicitly and automatically when the driver depresses the brake pedal and often also the clutch. Cruise control systems frequently include a memory feature to resume the set speed after braking and a coast feature to reduce the set speed without braking. When the cruise control is engaged, the throttle can still accelerate the car, but once the pedal is released, it will slow down the vehicle until it reaches the previously set speed.

On the latest vehicles fitted with [[electronic throttle control]], cruise control can be integrated into the vehicle's [[engine management system]]. Modern "adaptive" systems include the ability to automatically reduce speed when the distance to a car in front, or the speed limit, decreases. 

The cruise control systems of some vehicles incorporate a "speed limiter" function, which will not allow the vehicle to accelerate beyond a preset maximum; this can usually be overridden by fully depressing the accelerator pedal. Most systems will prevent the vehicle from increasing engine speed to accelerate beyond the chosen speed. However, they will not apply the brakes in the event of over-speeding downhill, nor stop the car from going faster than the selected speed even with the engine just [[Idle (engine)|idling]].

Cruise control is less flexible on vehicles with a [[manual transmission]] because depressing the clutch pedal and shifting gears usually disengages the cruise control. The "resume" feature has to be used each time after selecting the new gear and releasing the clutch. Therefore, cruise control is most beneficial at [[motorway]]/highway speeds when top gear is used virtually all the time. The speed limiter function, however, does not have this problem.