Is the Acceleration problem a lot bigger than Toyota?

[Chuck]

If the 19 Toyota drivers killed by the gas pedal problem were as alert as CleanMPG members, how many might be alive by simply shifting in neutral or cutting the ignition?

Chuck Thomas - CleanMPG - Feb 1, 2010

Tomorrow Toyota is expected to report a sharp decline in sales for January 2010 due to the acceleration problem. Granted, they may be behind other automakers in smart brake technology, and their corporate culture let the accelerator pedal problem linger. Still, I see a problem bigger than this one billion dollar fix.

The kind of drivers you find at CleanMPG are clearly in the minority, but if we were mainstream how many of the 19 Toyota acceleration deaths might be avoided? The hypermiler mentality is like a good businessman with a Plan B and a Plan C. I'd expect a hypermiler facing the gas pedal problem to either shift into neutral, click the ignition key a notch to kill the engine, or depress the power button for three seconds. I'd love for FAS switches to be standard equipment, but I digress.

I was in a defensive drivers course and in the minority: 60% had speeding citations. We are moving on to the driver and not the gas pedal. At least one third of the 40,000 Americans killed on the roads annually were speeding. Granted, 60,000 a year were killed twenty years ago, but one needs to factor stricter seat belt laws, airbags, crumple zones, and other safety features as speed limits and horsepower increased. Just as wind resistance increases exponentially with speed, so do G-forces on passenger impact, and braking and steering take more distance. Did you know buckling up improperly can sever an arm in a high-speed collision?

Over fifteen years ago leaving work late, I suddenly noticed I was driving 10 mph slower because there was nobody to compete with. Drivers speed to red lights, cut others off to get a car length ahead, or just to be #1 (where is the trophy?) Speeding will never stop, but so much of it does not save a significant amount of time and wastes time in increased collisions, more repairs, diversions if it provokes road rage.

Drivers need to act as responsibly as we demand automakers such as Toyota should.

[Mr. Pancake]

the "read more" link doesn't go anywhere

[vtec-e]

Unfortunately there is the perceived notion that coasting in neutral etc. is dangerous. I was going to say the vast majority of people are dumb but that isn't really true. But there is some kind of sheep mentality among us. The kind where people just take hearsay as gospel truth and the nonsense proliferates as a result. And boy are the top dogs in society profiting as well!

ollie

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pancake

the "read more" link doesn't go anywhere

Only because this article is not external.

[Mr. Pancake]

Originally Posted by Chuck

Only because this article is not external.

Well, when I hit the link this page pops up again, there is not continuation, I'm assuming there is more after "to...(read more)" Or is that the end of the article, if so the read more link should be eliminated, its a little confusing

[Chuck]

As with other inhouse articles, "Read More" is simply a redirect from the home page to the forums - I can't change the verbage.

The entire content is on the first post of this thread.

[Mr. Pancake]

I understand.

[Earthling]

Originally Posted by Chuck

Just as wind resistance increases exponentially with speed, so do G-forces on passenger impact, and braking and steering take more distance.

Kinetic energy, the energy of a body in motion, is k = 1/2 mv*v, where m is mass and v is velocity. So the energy you gain as you speed up is exponential. I really think the majority of drivers have no clue to this reality. It's the explanation for why injuries are more severe at higher speeds, and why it takes so much longer to stop at higher speeds.

Harry

[GrnHrnt]

This reminds me of the goofy motor mania cartoon, Mr.Walker the normal and good citizen, after he gets into the car turns into the rude and discourteous Mr.Wheeler.
Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZgiVicpZGk

[PaleMelanesian]

Originally Posted by Earthling

Kinetic energy, the energy of a body in motion, is k = 1/2 mv*v, where m is mass and v is velocity. So the energy you gain as you speed up is exponential. I really think the majority of drivers have no clue to this reality. It's the explanation for why injuries are more severe at higher speeds, and why it takes so much longer to stop at higher speeds.

Harry

So true.

Crash tests are performed at 35 mph. When you hurtle down the highway at 70 mph, the energy involved in a crash is four times as much as the crash tests handled. In other words, even in a 5-star vehicle, good luck.