Is 'off' in a car for turning on or off?
2 Answers
In a car, 'off' means to turn off, mainly referring to ESP off. ESP stands for the Electronic Stability Program, which is a general term for systems or programs designed to enhance vehicle handling performance while effectively preventing loss of control when the car reaches its dynamic limits. ESP analyzes the vehicle's driving state information from various sensors and then sends correction instructions to systems like ABS and EBD to help the vehicle maintain dynamic balance. How ESP works: Under certain road conditions and vehicle load conditions, the maximum adhesion force that the wheels can provide is a fixed value. That is, in extreme cases, the longitudinal force (along the wheel's rolling direction) and the lateral force (perpendicular to the wheel's rolling direction) experienced by the wheels have an inverse relationship.
I've been driving for decades and often encountered such issues. 'Off' in a car means to turn off, similar to switches in daily life—'off' for off, 'on' for on. On the car key, the 'off' position indicates the engine is shut off, and the vehicle is completely stopped. If the key isn't turned to 'off,' the engine keeps running, leading to unnecessary fuel consumption or battery drain. I remember one time when my neighbor forgot to turn it off, and the car idled in the garage all night, resulting in a dead battery the next morning, nearly making them late for work. For safety, always turn the key to 'off' when parking to prevent exhaust buildup or battery drain. Beginners often get confused because 'off' sounds like it could mean something else, but remember: on car buttons or controls, 'off' always means the closed state. Make it a habit to double-check and confirm.
