Is it bad to turn off the car in Drive?
You may wonder if turning off the car will damage your engine while you are driving. If you could control the engine while driving, your engine would not be damaged. Insert the ignition key back into your lock.
However, it will be more difficult to control your car since its electronics will not work while the engine is off. There is no current in the electrical system. So you have to stop your car.
Your car’s emergency brake will still work. This is a safety feature that most cars, old and new, are equipped with. So, use your emergency brake, and then start the engine again.
What do drivers say about turning off the engines in drive mode?
Some drivers turned off their engines while their vehicles were in drive mode. Here are real experiences of what can happen if you stop the engine, either accidentally or on purpose:
Ryan Pszczolkowski, test driver and tire program leader at Consumer Reports, said he drove a Ford Maverick with a physical key and push button start on a test track. He drove it down and turned off the ignition as he accelerated.
The engine died quickly. However, the steering wheel and brakes would not stop working. To be able to divert the truck from the track and bring it to a complete stop.
He then put the equipment in PARK. After a couple of minutes, he started the engine again and it ran. No damage was done to the engine or the driver.
Pszczolkowski also tried the same thing on a hybrid version of the Ford Maverick. When he pushed the starter button for a couple of seconds while driving the truck, the engine immediately shut down. The dash, brake and steering lights went into accessory mode.
Mike Monteverde, Consumer Reports test drive manager, said it can seem strange to turn off a vehicle at highway speeds. Actually, this is a safety feature for most modern cars. This is an important feature that you should be aware of.
For example, if your car suddenly breaks down or catches fire, you must have a way to turn off the engine so that no more damage happens to the engine, you, and your passengers. Then you can safely pull your car and park it in a safe place.
Once again, should you turn off your car’s engine when it’s in drive mode? Do not turn off your car’s engine while in DRIVE mode. Turning off the engine will make it difficult to steer or stop the vehicle, since the power steering and power brakes will not respond.
