Drivers must press one button to turn off safety function in four situations: experts
Motorists have been encouraged to press one button to deactivate a crucial safety tool if they find themselves in these situations.
An expert has delivered an unexpected tip to drivers, advising them to turn off one of their car's key safety features amidst extreme conditions.
YouTube's 'ToyotaJeffReviews' highlighted the need for turning off traction control when faced with perilous driving scenarios.
Traction control, a vital system found in all modern vehicles designed to stop skidding by reducing tyre spin, might need to be disabled in certain situations.
This crucial technology works hand-in-hand with the ABS to prevent numerous accidents each year.
However, he pointed out that in circumstances such as being stranded on ice or stuck in mud, allowing the tyres to spin more could be beneficial in regaining traction
According to 'ToyotaJeffReviews': "If this is such a great safety feature, why in the world would you want to turn traction control off? ".
"The main reason I can think of is let's say your car is stuck in mud or ice, or gravel or dirt or that type of thing. Sometimes we want to rock our car backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards. Reverse, drive."
He further advises: "When you turn off the traction control button that is going to allow you to do that manoeuvre to hopefully get you out of that messy situation."
Drivers should familiarise themselves with the traction control button, typically labelled with abbreviations such as ASR, TSC, ESC or ESP, varying with the vehicle brand.
Some buttons will be distinguished by an icon depicting a modern car with skid marks trailing from the rear. Owners of up-to-date vehicles might discover this function integrated into their onboard infotainment systems.
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It typically requires drivers to press and hold the button for several seconds before traction control is disabled, serving as an additional safeguard to prevent inadvertent deactivation while driving.
Carwow experts have lent weight to these assertions, underscoring the occasional utility of wheelspin in helping to dislodge a stuck vehicle.
Nonetheless, they urge drivers to only disable traction control when it's absolutely critical, emphasizing its significant role in road safety.
They elaborated: "It's an important safety feature that makes the roads safer for everyone, and turning it off means you instantly run a greater risk of skidding."
The professionals added: "It doesn't matter how good a driver you are, your traction control system will always react faster and more effectively to a potential skid than you can. You should certainly keep it switched on in slippery driving conditions."
