Maybe the cruise control in the reported accident was similar to an old one a family friend had in his 1980's Toyota ute.
It had a type of screw knob on the lower right dash which was connected directly to the accelerator. You could lower or raise the throttle by just turning the knob.....It was one of the most dangerous things I have ever seen in a car but became indispensable on a return trip from Melbourne to Brisbane.
