16 hours ago
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There is no denying that modern cars are chock-full of features that make your daily commute easier and safer.
And while automotive diehards and enthusiasts can tell you what the different symbols on your dashboard and their functions mean, some general drivers might not understand exactly what they do, which is why most motorists generally don’t bother fiddling with the different buttons.
In one instance, a Reddit user took to the social media platform and asked other users on the Stupid Car Questions thread the meaning behind numerous car buttons, including the symbol of a car with a wiggly line.
“What are these buttons for/when do I use them?” the user asked, with Reddit users providing a range of sarcastic and humorous responses.
“It’s drift mode, slalom mode, and downhill ski jumping. You have the Olympic medal notion,” a commenter said.
Jokes aside, the symbol indicates the car’s traction control, a crucial safety feature that should be left untouched, particularly in winter, when road conditions can be dangerous due to rain.
In a nutshell, traction control prevents the wheels from spinning when starting or braking on a wet surface, helping the car stay in place.
According to Driver Dynamics, Kevin Flynn, a driving instructor with more than 30 years of experience, he says that traction control helps keep your car firmly planted on the road.
“Traction control is trying to prevent your car from skidding during acceleration [and] as cars are becoming more and more powerful, it’s an essential safety feature on modern cars,” Flynn told Drive.
While the driving instructor advised drivers to leave the traction control on in everyday driving, he acknowledged the need to turn it off in certain emergency situations.
“There are very few reasons the everyday motorist would need to turn off the traction control [on their car],” he said.
“An exception would be if the car were bogged or stuck or rocking backwards or forwards (by shifting from forward to reverse) to get the vehicle unstuck, would be an example of a situation where turning off traction control may help,” Flynn advised.
Additionally, some off-roading situations such as travelling through deep sand, mud or snow may require drivers to turn off their car’s traction control in order to maintain grip on the surface.
Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.
