Man pulled key out of car ignition while driving down motorway at almost 50mph to ‘see what would happen’

Some questions are best left unanswered - unless you're a YouTuber willing to risk it all for science (or entertainment).

One man took that ethos to the extreme, pulling the key out of his car's ignition while driving at nearly 50mph on the motorway, all to answer a burning curiosity that most of us wouldn't dare test.

The brave - or reckless - individual behind the wheel is none other than AutoVlog, a popular YouTuber known for taking his vehicles through wild and wacky experiments.

From running a car on vodka to slamming it into reverse at high speeds, his videos push the limits of what cars can endure - and what viewers can stomach.

For this particular stunt, AutoVlog chose a 1994 Ford Ranger, a vehicle old enough to lack the modern safety features that prevent such antics.

Most of us wouldn't dare try the stunt, so luckily AutoVlog does so we don't have to (YouTube/AutoVlog)

"Most people wouldn't even think of this," he says in the video.

"But I thought, why not? Let's find out what happens."

Surprisingly, pulling the key out didn't cause the Ford Ranger to stall or careen out of control. The truck continued cruising as if nothing had happened. It turns out that the Ranger's ignition system allows the engine to keep running even without the key in place.

According to AutoVlog, you can restart the vehicle by turning the ignition barrel with your hand - no key required.

While this might seem like an amusing quirk, it also poses a worrying security flaw.

"If you're driving one of these, anyone could just hop in and drive away," AutoVlog remarks, noting how outdated systems like these pale in comparison to the safeguards in newer cars.

To compare, AutoVlog tried the same stunt with his 2015 Ford F-150.

Unsurprisingly, the modern truck didn't budge. The ignition system is designed to lock the key in place while the car is running, preventing any mid-drive mischief.

Although you can still turn the engine off while driving, taking the key out is a no-go.

This evolution highlights how far vehicle technology has come, with features designed to protect drivers from both accidents and their own bad decisions.

Surprisingly, nothing happened and the car kept going (YouTube/AutoVlog)

The comments section of the video is a treasure trove of admiration and incredulity.

"The only anti-theft feature is the manual transmission," one user joked, while another said, "This man is doing all the dumb things I wanted to do as a kid."

For many, AutoVlog's experiment taps into a shared curiosity about cars and their limits.

After all, who hasn't wondered about these forbidden 'what ifs?'

As one commenter summed it up: "This guy is answering life's dumbest but most important questions."

AutoVlog's risky antics might make mechanics and safety experts cringe, but they serve an important purpose: saving the rest of us from our own worst impulses.

So, next time you're tempted to try something ridiculous behind the wheel, let AutoVlog handle it for you - your car (and wallet) will thank you.