Understanding what this button is used for can help drivers feel more confident behind the wheel – it’s a crucial safety tool that steps in to prevent accidents
Have you ever seen a button in your car that shows a little car with wavy lines underneath it and wondered: “Should I press that?”
A great many Brit drivers are unaware what its intended purpose is, but thankfully TikToker @brain.frz has revealed the answer: “That’s your traction control button, and it only kicks in when things get slippery — when your wheels start to spin on rain, snow or loose gravel, it automatically reduces power or applies brakes to keep your car from losing grip.”
Traction control is a vital safety feature designed to help drivers maintain control in slippery conditions. When the system senses wheel spin or loss of traction, it quietly steps in to gently reduce engine power or selectively apply the brakes — without needing any input from the driver.
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This helps keep the vehicle stable and on course during adverse weather conditions and rough terrain, maximising safety and stability. So why would anyone ever want to turn off a safety feature designed to keep them on the road?
The TikTok tech expert explains: “In rare cases, like being stuck in mud or snow, turning it off can actually help you spin your way out.”
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While traction control automatically attempts to prevent wheel spin, when you’re stuck in deep snow or mud, spinning your wheels freely can sometimes be key to becoming unstuck. So by disabling the system temporarily, drivers can gain enough traction to escape.
In normal driving conditions, especially when driving on wet or icy roads, turning traction control off generally increases the risk of losing control. So it’s best to heed @brain.frz’s advice: “Unless you’re in trouble, don’t touch it.”
Understanding this button can help drivers feel more confident behind the wheel — it’s a crucial safety tool that steps in to prevent skids and slides before they might otherwise occur.
So the traction control button is best left alone unless the vehicle is stuck in challenging terrain, so while it looks important and, according to the according to the online expert at least, most people have no idea what it actually does.
Now that the mystery is solved, drivers can utilise this small but powerful feature to keep them safe on slippery roads.
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