OMon, Apr 12, 2010 at 4:16 PM, Gary J. MacDonald <garyj_at_rogers.com> wrote: > > http://www.canadiandriver.com/2010/03/22/feature-not-so-fast-toyota%E2%80%99s-unintended-acceleration.htm?page=all > > I think this is a pretty good analysis of the "runaway" situation by an > independent and experienced analyst. > It might in fact happen once in a long while, but I think a lot of it is > "pedal misapplication" as suggested. > > Gary > I read the Canadian Driver story and I think it's BS. At least with the modern cases. And possibly BS with regard to the cases the author cites from the 1970s and 1980s (pre "drive-by-wire"). The author is claiming that the modern problems stem from people inadvertently stepping on the accelerator pedal (instead of the brake) before shifting the automatic transmission from "park" to "drive". Then, when the car moves more than the driver expects he/she steps harder on the accelerator thinking that it's the brake. You can demonstrate this on your own vehicle if you like. This may have worked in the 1970s and 1980s but it doesn't wash with modern vehicles because there is a lockout in these systems that will not allow the vehicle to shift into "drive" from "park" unless the brake is depressed. The locking system is not fooled by the driver depressing the accelerator pedal instead. Further, it does not account for sudden acceleration of a vehicle while it has been operating in a normal manner on the roadway. Nor does it account for the several instances of Toyotas being driven into a dealership with the engine racing by people who managed to get the vehicle into neutral (which is not always possible, from some reports). I also noticed that the author is an expert in human ergonomics. Maybe it's a case of only knowing how to use a hammer so that becomes the tool of choice for everything. He understands human frailties and therefore suspects human frailty. If a California State Patrol officer can get involved in a sudden acceleration incident (which kills him and his family at an intersection they cannot stop for) then I suspect it's not a human problem. And Steve Wozniak, a guy who may know a little something about computers, says that his Toyota has run away with him several times but he's always managed to fiddle with enough things to make it stop. Tord's remarks about a complete shut-off system that they installed on the buses he drives seems like a reasonable idea to me. It won't solve the problem of runaway vehicles but it will certainly stop *that* runaway vehicle. Also notice that none of these problems have been reported in vehicles with manual transmissions. Interesting, no? Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA www.nwkayaking.net *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Apr 12 2010 - 17:46:17 PDT
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