this post was submitted on 23 Mar 2026
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No Stupid Questions

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There is no such thing as a Stupid Question!

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Gearheads โ€” what would happen if I...? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)
submitted 5 days ago by cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/nostupidquestions@lemmy.ca
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Always wanted to know this, always been afraid to Google it because I figured it would report me for self harm or something like that.

So, 1. What would happen if, while driving on the highway at highway speeds, you grab the gear shift knob and put it in park? Would it just lock up all the wheels or what?

And 2. What would happen if, also while driving on the highway, at highway speeds, you turn the car off (turn the key and remove it)?

I feel like both should be impossible while the car is in motion. But somehow I don't think they are. And to a gearhead, these are probably really stupid questions. But as someone who barely understands how cars do what they do... I'm curious.

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[โ€“] over_clox@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

Once upon a time, vehicle manufacturers assumed people have common sense and know how to properly operate a motor vehicle. Then as time went on, they've discovered just how many idiots there are out there, so newer vehicles tend to have lockouts and safety mechanisms to prevent such things.

Still, its best to assume that no vehicle has any such safety features to prevent you from making either one of these mistakes.