# Skid Detected -- Autoshutdown Initiated (WTF?)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skid-detected-autoshutdown-initiated-wtf/569199>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 27, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skid-detected-autoshutdown-initiated-wtf/569199 "2011-01-27T17:01:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skid-detected-autoshutdown-initiated-wtf/569199/1 "2011-01-27T17:01:25Z")

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A snippet from [a Washington Post article](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/26/AR2011012603960.html) about the latest snow-handling goatscrew in DC:

> [@](#):
>
> Salt trucks that might have mitigated the effect of the fresh layer of ice were trapped in the same traffic jams that drivers were. And very quickly those trucks were stuck behind cars that were spinning their wheels on hills and **buses with modern technology that caused them to shut down when they lose traction**.

Er, what? Why is it supposed to be a good idea to have your vehicle automatically shut down in the middle of the highway if you start skidding?

Are Metrobus drivers so inept that any attempt on their part to regain control or mitigate the skid would inevitable aggravate the situation? That’s about the only rational reason I can think of for something like this.

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**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skid-detected-autoshutdown-initiated-wtf/569199/2 "2011-01-27T17:12:14Z")

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I think they were referring to [traction control](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traction_control_system) and [electronic stability control](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_stability_control) systems. The cars don’t “shut down,” but these systems do limit wheelspin and apply the brakes in order to prevent skids and loss of control.

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**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skid-detected-autoshutdown-initiated-wtf/569199/3 "2011-01-27T17:27:00Z")

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The buses may have a traction control system that the driver cannot turn off.

I have a rear wheel drive car with "traction control’. In theory it should prevent an inexperienced driver from spinning out and losing control of the car. When the tires begin to slip, the ABS engages, the power is cut, and the gas pedal kicks back at my feet to tell me to look at the ‘low traction’ lights on the dash and slow the hell down.

In practice this feature can make it almost impossible to drive or even move the car under very slippery conditions unless I turn traction control off. Fortunatly there is a switch for that. Even better is the module I bought that plugs in behind the switch and reverses the ‘always on’ default to ‘always off’, unless I decide to turn it on.

I am guessing that the buses have something like that, and the drivers may not be able to over-ride the system.