What if you didn’t get the key out or accidentally pressed the start/stop button and your car abruptly shut off while driving? Here are some tips to help you safely avoid dangerous consequences:
1. Shift gears to Neutral
First of all, you need to shift your gears to neutral. Doing so will disconnect the wheels from your engine. So you can avoid damaging your car.
2. Slow down the vehicle
Immediately slow down your vehicle. You will feel that it will be difficult to hit the brakes. Use the emergency brake if you cannot get the brakes to work.
Steering will also be more difficult as the power steering no longer works. Therefore, your first step is to slow the vehicle down and pull off the road. As you slow down, you should also turn on your hazard lights.
This action will alert drivers following your vehicle on the road. They will know that your car is having some problems. By slowing down and pulling off the road, you will give other drivers enough room to pass and avoid your vehicle.
3. Get out of the car
You can only get out of the car when your vehicle is off the road. Leave your emergency lights flashing. Then call a tow truck or AAA and wait until they arrive. You cannot drive your vehicle even if you can start the engine again.
It is unsafe because your car may suffer from the same problem again. You will again put yourself and other drivers in danger. Therefore, it is wiser to wait for the tow truck to take your car to the nearest auto service shop for diagnosis and repair.
Should you remove the key from the ignition while driving?
Maybe you are curious and want to get the experience. Never do this to your engine. Turning off the engine while driving is very dangerous. Although some drivers say you can do it without damaging the engine, you are still exposing yourself to unnecessary danger.
There are older cars that will allow you to remove the car key while driving. Still, your flyers will crash. If your gears are in glider mode, your wheels will also lock up.
The car’s airbags, GPS, Bluetooth, radio, and safety devices critical to safe operation will not work.
It’s not a good idea to mess around with car engines. They are powerful and can be difficult to control. Remember, since the power to the car is cut off, you will not be able to use the safety features of your vehicle.
If your attempt leads to an accident, your insurer will increase your risk. You will be forced to pay higher rates than before.
They may not even insure it if they find out you did it yourself. That’s not even taking into account the damage your car can sustain if you’re in a car accident.
In conclusion
If you turn off the engine while your car is running, the power will be cut off. You will lose power steering and everything that allows you to control your vehicle. When you lose control, you can have a terrible accident and hurt yourself, other drivers, and people on the road.
You can turn off the engine in rare cases, such as emergencies. You will be able to stop your vehicle. However, your car will roll downhill if you are on a hill. Therefore, the best thing to do is to shift your gear to PARK to stop your vehicle.
