Good blog on unintended accel. (by expert)

[Alicate]

Op-Ed Contributor - Sudden Acceleration Often Caused By Drivers - NYTimes.com

[Texas5]

Very well articulated, and something I have supposed all along may be the real cause of "unintended acceleration".

[Dani]

Interesting read. I can totally believe that most cases are due to human error, after all the human neuromuscular system is controlled by a very sophisticated computer and is not immune to defects and quirks. I have experienced a moment when I was driving and wanted to accelerate and my brain was confused and hesitated as to which pedal I should press.
Very scary, I assume early signs of Alzheimer or something
What the article does not touch on is why one manufacture is more prone to this than another.
Maybe folks who choose Audi or Toyota, have a bad set of neurotransmitters in the first place...

[Texas5]

Maybe the gas/brake pedals in Toyotas are aligned slightly different from other vehicles (closer perhaps), which is leading to the incidence of the problem.

[Viperfreak2]

This doesn't explain a 6 mile, or 30 mile! incident. These people are the bandwagonm, and they are jumping on because they no longer want the Toyota the signed up to pay for, or are looking for media attention.

[JCL]

I remember the Audi 5000 incidents from the '70s. A very telling bit of testimony came when a mother, who was driving an Audi 5000 when an unintended acceleration accident killed her daughter, could not accept that she had been at fault. She testified that it was impossible because she simply couldn't be responsible for killing her daughter. Humans are programmed like that. However, there was evidence in that case that she had been pressing the accelerator and not the pedal. It was very difficult to watch the case unfold. When Audi installed the shift locks (foot on brake pedal before you can put it in drive) the incidence of crashes was greatly reduced.

The problem at the moment is that many owners, lawyers, and legislators, are on a 'bash Toyota' campaign. I certainly can accept that there may be an electronic problem that causes some incidents in Toyotas and other makes of vehcicles. However, the hysteria that is blaming Toyota and others for every bump is ridiculous.

The other day there was a news story whereby an owner drove for miles, apparently unable to slow down. He phoned several people from his cell phone while driving. The highway patrol pulled up beside him at speed, and told him over the megaphone to shut the car off. He did. Situation resolved. In what strange warped world is that a nationally newsworthy story? Why does he have a driver's license?

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by JCL

The problem at the moment is that many owners, lawyers, and legislators, are on a 'bash Toyota' campaign. I certainly can accept that there may be an electronic problem that causes some incidents in Toyotas and other makes of vehicles. However, the hysteria that is blaming Toyota and others for every bump is ridiculous.

The other day there was a news story whereby an owner drove for miles, apparently unable to slow down. He phoned several people from his cell phone while driving. The highway patrol pulled up beside him at speed, and told him over the megaphone to shut the car off. He did. Situation resolved. In what strange warped world is that a nationally newsworthy story? Why does he have a driver's license?

... Something or, somethings may be glitching in some of those cars, but some of the incidents are unbelievable in terms of the drivers'
lack of common sense and reactions.

From the rags today, the guy with the Prius that took him for a half hour "ride". (He is a year younger than I am, too; damn, I look good. )

That San Diego case against Toyota is starting to look shaky. As USA TODAY's Sharon Silke Carty reports, runaway driving victim James Sikes was having financial problems and the Associated Press says his Prius was equipped with an advanced pedal system designed to shut down the car. If it turns out that the Prius case is a phony, Toyota might be able to parlay it into getting everyone to accept the idea that its explanation for all its troubles surrounding unintended acceleration -- jamming pedals and sticky accelerators -- was right all along and that the cars' computers are not to blame.
The latest about why that San Diego case may be falling apart:

• His Prius was equipped with a brake override system. It would have curtailed the acceleration if he pressed the accelerator and brake in a way that indicated he was confused or panicked.
• He was deeply in debt and has retained a law firm, even though so far he says doesn't plan to sue Toyota.
• His answer on why he didn't shift the car in neutral to stop the acceleration raised more questions. He told Carty he was afraid that would "flip the car." He also says, "I've since found out that's not possible, but I had no idea. Hopefully, I helped save five to 10 lives because people are now finding out" how to put a moving Prius into neutral.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by JCL

Why does he have a driver's license?

Frankly, after first hearing of the story I assumed he was a fraud, possibly with a mental problem. The story just didn't ring true.

I suspect the truth will eventually come out, and it will be like the numerous people who found things in their fast food after one incident was publicized.

The question is whether or not he will be prosecuted for a false report, IMHO.

[blktoptrvl]

Didn't Manufacturers start putting tell-tales in cars a while ago that would record the last couple minutes of driving before a crash? I wonder if anyone has cracked any of these open to see what they have to say about it.

[motordavid]

Toy's "Black Boxes", EDRs, supposedly can only be deciphered by Toyota, fwiw.
And, they have been very reluctant to release any recorded info, vis a vis
the spate of recent incidents. Most web pieces seem to suggest that it is not
clear what data Toy's EDRs actually record...they are less transparent than
say GM's EDRs, fwiw.