Toyota's runaway-car worries may not stop at floor mats

[Chuck]

"Right now," Kane said, "when you say sudden acceleration, Toyota is it."

By Ralph Vartabedian and Ken Bensinger - LATIMES - Oct 18, 2009

Article mentions an obvious solution - a shut off button - will factory FAS switches be common place? --Ed.

The 2009 Lexus ES 350 shot through suburban San Diego like a runaway missile, weaving at 120 miles an hour through rush hour freeway traffic as flames flashed from under the car.

At the wheel, veteran California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor desperately tried to control the 272-horsepower engine that was roaring at full throttle as his wife, teenage daughter and brother-in-law were gripped by fear.

"We’re in trouble. . . . There’s no brakes," Saylor's brother-in-law Chris Lastrella told a police dispatcher over a cellphone. Moments later, frantic shrieks filled the car as it slammed into another vehicle and then careened into a dirt embankment, killing all four aboard.... [Read More]

[Tomjones76]

None of these folks can hit neutral?

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by Tomjones76

None of these folks can hit neutral?

Yep - it seems like there is a lot of learned helplessness out there.

[noflash]

Originally Posted by Tomjones76

None of these folks can hit neutral?

It's so obvious you don't need to mention it. And you can't judge unless you were there.

nf

[Tomjones76]

I hope that guy has gotten promoted away from driving as a part of his duties.
My heart goes out to everyone involved in this situation; losing a spouse isn't something you deserve for not being able to think in an emergency, but sometimes it's what you get...

[brick]

Driving definitely isn't on his to-do list. He was killed with the rest of them.

[Tomjones76]

Originally Posted by brick

Driving definitely isn't on his to-do list. He was killed with the rest of them.

I guess you're right.
-5 points for me on reading comprehension.

[warthog1984]

OK, figuring that everyone should be familiar with the primary controls of whatever you drive, in case of unintended acceleration:

1) Off the pedals. You may have hit the gas on accident.
2) Brake
3&4) If the above do not work, get the car out of Drive- Shifter Forward for all cars, shove it toward the left or right on fancy-detent cars. You may engage the interlock if you panic. "N" is best but "R" and "P" work just as well.
Stand on the brakes. Do not engage, hit, pulse, push, or stomp on the brakes. Stand up slightly, lean forward, pull the steering wheel toward you and put your foot Through the floor. The pedal and wheel should be creaking if you do this right.

5) continue above until stopped or runaway is over.

Fairly simple, but it works.

[warthog1984]

FWIW-

In a typical car, the brake fluid is probably old and "wet".

If you cannot remember the last time the brakes were serviced, when the brakes feel mushy, quickly pump the peddle to get the air bubbles out of the way before resuming braking.

If you are lucky enough to have upgraded your pads and fluid, this probably will not be a concern.

-Marc
~Hawk HP+ racing brake pads and ATE Superblue DOT4+ brake fluid~

[Chuck]

I read the Toyota acceleration concerns, then I read Volvo: No deaths in our cars by 2020 about their plans to automate car safety to the point traffic deaths don't happen.

I'm skeptical.