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You're right, and I guess this shows how driver education can save lives, especially now that drivers really don't need to understand how cars work (I sure don'

You're right, and I guess this shows how driver education can save lives, especially now that drivers really don't need to understand how cars work (I sure don't). Years later, I still distinctly remember my instructor describing what you could do if your brakes fail. Are you sure that power steering requires the main engine, or does it use a different power source? Perhaps the kill switch could disable everything except power steering, unless it's held down? I've read that turning the car off using the key doesn't disable power steering unless it's turned all the way, so that would provide similar functionality.

AngryParsley 17y ago
Usually steering is powered by a hydraulic pump driven by the engine's serpentine belt. Automatic transmissions have torque converters, which are one-way (the engine can turn the wheels, but the wheels can't turn the engine). As soon as the engine dies, the serpentine belt stops, hydraulic pressure drops, and steering gets hard. Some newer models (usually hybrids) power the hydraulic pump with an electric motor, and a few cars have purely electric power steering (just an electric motor, no hydraulics). In these types, a kill switch could be set up to stop only the engine, not the electrics. The battery could power the car long enough to stop safely.