Turning the X5 off in an Emergency

[JCL]

Originally Posted by ABMW

BMWNA, Toyota, Nissan, etc., do they have redundancy systems for their drive-by-wire?

I think we all know the answer.

No, they don't. Any they didn't have redundant systems for mechanical linkages used for the past 90 years or so, when the biggest danger was friction in the linkage, or floormat interference.

However, they do have a driver. And the driver has a brake pedal. Any automobile brakes, by design, are 3-4 times as powerful as automobile engines. That isn't true on a continuous basis (brakes will overheat and fade) but you have several stopping cycles available to you before that happens.

Simple steps if the accelerator sticks:
1) Don't lean down and try to unstick it.
2) Apply the brakes
3) Steer out of traffic, ie to the side of the road
4) Then, and only then, put it in neutral
5) Turn off the vehicle

Doing (4) or (5) before (2) and (3) risks incorrect gear selection (as noted in the example above) and a further loss of power steering and brakes if you do (5) before you are safely stopped.

It all comes down to untrained drivers, going into panic mode.

Putting a safety interlock into the system to make the brakes shut down the throttle is only useful if the driver is applying the brakes. Since the brakes can overpower the accelerator anyways, it is there for product liability/lawyer issues, and not as a practical benefit in most cases.