>Every car is capable of doing this; every car is one transmission / differential / electric motor lockup away from stopping its drive wheels immediately. yeah

>Every car is capable of doing this; every car is one transmission / differential / electric motor lockup away from stopping its drive wheels immediately. yeah, but these risks of mechanical lockup are usually better mitigated against because they're an understood risk. Driveshaft lockups can occur, generally because an appliance on either side of them failed -- certain manufacturers mitigate this by very simply using mechanisms that are unlikely to ever break, and some manufacturers go an extra step and use BreakBolt style fasteners that will destroy themselves in the event of a lockup that torques them harshly. An engine seize event doesn't stall or stop a vehicle that uses a CVT (most low-end 'automatic' cars on the market), it just creates additional engine braking pressure -- and before CVTs were in common use we used traditional torque converter automatics that failed similarly.. this is one of the major features of a hydro-mechanical linkage element like a torque converter. Many CV axle designs now incorporate straps to limit movement during a failure, to prevent wheel lock or steering lock. New style manuals can automatically engage the clutch during an engine seize event, limiting the physical reaction from the car during the event. Shit still happens, wheel locks are uncommon but they still exist; but I think it's safe to say that people are waiting to hear what Tesla's engineering answer will be to the whole 'suddenly-stopped-car' problem.