What does 'off' mean in a car, is it on or off?
2 Answers
OFF in a car means off, and ON means on. The off light in a car mainly refers to ESP-OFF. ESP stands for Electronic Stability Program, which is an active safety device mainly used to prevent the risk of vehicle skidding and fishtailing. Here is some information about ESP: 1. ESP is an electronic stability program composed of three systems: ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), BAS (Brake Assist System), and ASR (Acceleration Slip Regulation). Therefore, a diagnostic tool is needed to read the fault codes and then handle them accordingly. 2. ESP is mainly used to deal with the risk of losing control due to fishtailing when making emergency maneuvers to avoid obstacles. When making an emergency avoidance, ESP intervenes to increase the driving force of the wheels; when there is a tendency to fishtail, ESP will brake the other side wheels to reduce the rotation, thereby helping the vehicle follow the driver's steering intention.
As someone who frequently drives long distances, I've seen too many fellow drivers confuse this. 'Off' in a car means to turn something off, like pressing the 'off' button on the AC stops the system—it definitely doesn't mean on. This comes from English switch conventions where 'on' is on and 'off' is off. When I first learned to drive, I also mistakenly thought it meant on, and ended up freezing without heating in winter. Later, I got into the habit of checking the manual or icons to confirm. Common places you'll find 'off' in a car include the headlight and light switches—turning them off saves power and protects the battery. Safety features like ESP have an 'off' for manually disabling assistance in specific road conditions, but it's best for beginners not to fiddle with them. Regularly check switch positions to develop good habits and avoid accidents. Make sure everything is off after parking—it’s hassle-free and safe.
