Car - what if engine suddenly quits

[orezok]

I think that is model dependent. On mine, you can't turn the vehicle off while moving, but you can do it while stopped, foot on brake, and not in Park.

@eptm I share your concerns about steer by wire. AFAIK, the enhanced safety of steer by wire is through redundancy and the lack of a mechanical column in a crash. Your comment prompted me to look for data, and as far as I can tell there isn't data, in part because so few vehicles have been sold with only steer by wire.
Steer-by-wire - Wikipedia (list of vehicles at the end)

All the best,

Peter

Most if not all push button start cars have a built in emergency shutdown. Few are documented in the manual. My wife’s Genesis will shutdown the engine while moving by holding the stop button for 2 seconds or 3 times within 2 seconds.

Google your car for procedure.

I believe its actually required by law

 

[etpm]

I think that is model dependent. On mine, you can't turn the vehicle off while moving, but you can do it while stopped, foot on brake, and not in Park.

@eptm I share your concerns about steer by wire. AFAIK, the enhanced safety of steer by wire is through redundancy and the lack of a mechanical column in a crash. Your comment prompted me to look for data, and as far as I can tell there isn't data, in part because so few vehicles have been sold with only steer by wire.
Steer-by-wire - Wikipedia (list of vehicles at the end)

All the best,

Peter

I looked for and couldn't find the report I read several years ago about steer by wire vs mechanical. It was an industry insider publication. So not published for the general public. It my have been a NASA publication but like I said I couldn't find it. Anyway, it started with aircraft systems and how fly by wire had become more reliable than mechanical systems and then went on to discuss cars and catastrophic mechanical failures and the components involved that could, and have, led to the loss of steering control. It was all pretty technical and I enjoyed reading it. The report was meant for manufacturers, not just casual reading. If I find it I'll post a link.
Eric

 

[flyerdan]

My cousin has a Honda Fit with electric steering; I was taking it to the airport to pick her up when the electrical system went nutso, gauges cutting in and out and radio and lights flickering until it all finally went dead. The car kept running, and the steering was very similar to a failed power steering belt, quite stiff but still easily controllable. I can't imagine any of the nanny reg people allowing a complete loss of steering situation, regardless of the rarity, occurring. Problem was a corroded terminal connection, when cleaned up everything was fine.