* Loss of Steering: The front wheels are directly connected to the steering mechanism via the axle. A broken axle means complete loss of steering control. The car will no longer respond to steering input.
* Sudden and Violent Turn: Depending on which side of the axle breaks and how it breaks, the car will likely veer sharply to one side or the other. This will be unpredictable and uncontrollable.
* Loss of Braking (Partial or Complete): The front brakes are connected to the front wheels through the axle. A complete break might render the front brakes useless, drastically reducing your braking power. Even partial failure could severely impact braking effectiveness.
* Potential for Rollover: The sudden loss of steering and braking, combined with the high speed, significantly increases the risk of a rollover.
* Loss of Wheel Control: The wheels connected to the broken axle will likely detach, causing significant damage to the vehicle and possibly striking other vehicles or objects.
* Likely Crash: The driver will almost certainly be unable to prevent a crash. The severity of the crash will depend on several factors including road conditions, surrounding traffic, and the location of the break.
In short, a front axle breaking at 60 mph is a life-threatening event. The outcome is almost certainly a serious accident. Survival would depend heavily on luck, the nature of the break, and the surrounding environment.
