Champ with more ego than talent shows us why it's not true that RWD BMWs don't understeer

Here we have a video showing a BMW 3 Series that went into a corner with excessive speed and understeered onto the cable of a utility pole, resulting in the car stranded and pointing towards the sky.

Turning a blind eye to the questionable roundabout etiquette before the crash, this video is yet another proof that cars with all the modern electronics and even a rear-wheel drive (RWD) layout cannot save a driver from chronic understeer.

Also read: Here's more proof VSC cannot save dumb drivers

Electronic safety systems can only do so much to mitigate situations with loss of traction, such as braking the inside wheels to combat understeer. But if the speed proves to be excessive, there’s just no breaking the laws of physics.

And while RWD cars (the 3 Series here may well be an M340i, which has all-wheel drive but it’s still a rear-biased-driven car) are inherently more balanced in terms of weight distribution, understeer will still happen if the driver does the wrong things.

Also read: Mythbusters: Rear-wheel drive cars don't understeer

Case in point, carrying excessive speed into a corner. Braking and accelerating requires longitudinal grip while turning entails lateral grip. In the battle for the finite amount grip, longitudinal grip always comes out on top.

The lesson here is this – keep your emotions in check when driving, getting worked up on the road makes you the only victim, and never fall into the false sense of security modern cars offer. Everything feels like they’re in control, until they aren’t. Drive safe, everyone.

Also read: Want to improve your driving? Start with your eyes