Gearheads — what would happen if I...? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 4 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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[-] cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 4 days ago

I don't know years, but one of my brothers once had a Chrysler LeBaron. I think it was a '93? White, convertible. One day, with me riding shotgun, he went to a boat ramp (ramp that leads into a lake) and floored it. Just before hitting the water, he pulls the e-brake and swings the wheel hard to one side. The back end whipped over the water and the car stopped, facing up the ramp. That started the fight, but it's not why his friend broke his ankle. That was later. All in all it was a good night, even though it ended up with a trip to the ER. My brother's still one of my favourite people in the world. And I do miss that car.

[-] Mothra@mander.xyz 3 points 4 days ago

I take the bait and second the petition for the tale of the ankle. Come on you don't mention an apparently irrelevant fact if you are not planning on sharing more about it

[-] cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 days ago

Replied to the previous comment ;)

[-] The_Che_Banana@beehaw.org 1 points 4 days ago

I, for one, would like to hear the tale of said ankle.

[-] cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 days ago

Honestly I don't remember much, they were drinking (I was the designated driver) and the guy went to walk/run down a hill and rolled his ankle. I'm not 100% sure it broke, but he was hollering like a madman and I had some Tylenol on me for some reason and gave it to him, and I remember in the ER they asked what he had, and I recited the amount and ABV of what he drank, plus the dosage of acetaminophen down to the mg. My brother and his friend said I shouldn't have mentioned the Tylenol so he could have gotten more morphine. I reminded them, this is why I'm the DD.

this post was submitted on 23 Mar 2026

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