"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
NY wrote:
Yes, the whole concept of removing the mechanical load from an engine
that is running out of control seems counter-intuitive, when the object
would seem to be to remove the problem at source by cutting off the
fuel which is best achieved by turning off the ignition. That hinges
critically on not accidentally locking the steering wheel: the thing
that the video said was highly likely but people on this thread have
said doesn't happen until the keys are removed - unless anyone knows of
exceptions to that for certain vehicles.

I'd say any vehicle which locked the steering when you simply turned off
the ignition faulty. As well as positively dangerous.

Yes so would I. In the heat of the moment I wasn't going to risk it and so I
turned the switch off carefully to the accessory position - just in case.
But I would say that the steering should only lock if the key is removed,
not just turned off. There are various reasons why you may need to kill the
engine in a hurry - a passenger might need to do it if the driver becomes
incapacitated and keeps pressure on the accelerator. I've always thought
that cars should be designed with the ignition key on the side of the
steering column that is nearer the passenger, as was the case on first few
cars I owned. So LHD cars still have the ignition on the RHS, which is the
passenger's side for LHD? Or is that part of the steering column housing
mirrored for LHD? I know that indicator and wiper stalks are still the same
way round, which fooled me for a few seconds when I first drove an LHD
because I expected the stalks to be mirrored.