Science Ain't So Bad

QUICK! Turn off the Ipod!

DRAGGING YOUR FEET WON’T WORK!

Dear MISTER ScienceAintSoBad: I gotta write fast because my car’s gone CRAZY! The things goin’- uh- 85 mph – well, faster, I think. An’ I can’t stop it cause it’s made by a fureign company so what do I do?  I tried the brakes but I’m afraid I might ruin ‘em if I press TOO hard. PLEASE answer quick! - KnuckleHead31

Dear Knucklehead:

You don’t mention if  you’ve already prayed, but I’m gonna assume you tried that and it didn’t work, OK?

Now here’s the interesting thing. In addition to the foot brake and the accelerator, many cars have several ADDITIONAL controls. If you look down and to the right you fill find a thing called a SHIFT LEVER and, a little up and to the left of that, an ignition switch (activated by either a key or, in some new cars, a big fat button).  Hopefully, you are already aware of the purpose of that big decorative wheel that you rest your hands on.

Bob Byrnes, a nice highway patrol trooper from Missouri (thanks, Springfield, News-Leader) says to: Shift into neutral,  step on the brake,  steer to the side of the road, shut off the engine. Which seems to make a LOT of sense.

MISTER ScienceAintSoBad probably would have flipped off the ignition (if it’s a button, you gotta hold it down  for a few seconds). That should turn off the engine, but there could be some control issues. Better to do what Trooper Byrnes says if you have a sudden acceleration. At least you’ll be mad at HIM if you bash up your new car.

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