Another Cruise Control Story

[AzNMpower32]

Terror As Cruise Control Locks At 60mph - Yahoo! News UK

Chase Weir, 22, realised he was unable to slow down when he tried to leave the motorway as he headed out of Melbourne.


Careering along in his Ford Explorer, he tried to slam on the brakes, but they did not stop him. He then tried to take the car out of gear but it would not budge - and when he tried to pull out the key it would not turn in the ignition.


He phoned Ford for advice but when nothing worked they asked to put him on hold. "I didn't really want to be on hold at that point. I hung up and rang 000," said Mr Weir.


"The (police) operator told me 20 times to stay calm and that help was on the way. "I was hysterical. I screamed at the lady on the phone 'I'm going to die'.
"I have never been so scared in all my life."


Officers told him to get into the left lane and sent cars to drive in front of him, clearing vehicles with their sirens. The chaotic convoy then exited the freeway but the terrifying scenario got worse. Traffic was backed-up along the road forcing Mr Weir to drive on the other side of the road and towards oncoming traffic. He was racing towards a wall of cars when a frantic police radio operator ordered him to slam on the brakes.


"She told me to jump on the brake and pull the handbrake at the same time, which I did,'' a shaken Mr Weir said.


"I just shut my eyes. I could hear the tyres skidding on the road for what seemed like forever. I thought I was dead. When I opened my eyes, I was bonnet to bonnet with the car in front of me."


Ford Australia has told Australia's Herald Sun newspaper that there is no link between the recall of 4.5 million Explorers in October and Mr Weir's incident.

[E61Silver]

Is it that hard to put in neutral?

No need to phone or panic.

Seems like some people are just stupid.

[AzNMpower32]

Originally Posted by E61Silver

Is it that hard to put in neutral?

No need to phone or panic.

Seems like some people are just stupid.

Did you not read? He then tried to take the car out of gear but it would not budge - and when he tried to pull out the key it would not turn in the ignition.

[Weasel]

The key should still have turned back one click to the acc. position and killed the engine. And he should have been able to slam on the brakes and stop himself way before the cops told him to... But not all drivers are created equal, likely the type who's first reaction when accidentally running a stop sign in front of someone is to slam the brakes... stopping in front of the person about to hit them.

Either way, shitty situation. The fact that he couldn't kill the ignition with the vehicle in gear is a safety hazzard, maybe just a physically worn/failing/jamming ignition cylinder?

[E61Silver]

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

Did you not read? He then tried to take the car out of gear but it would not budge - and when he tried to pull out the key it would not turn in the ignition.

Does not make sense, how could the gear selector not work or you not able to change gears? I think this is another story like the kid in the balloon.

[motordavid]

Something's fishy, imo...
brakes should at least slow it, neutral, key,etc.
I read what he said happened, but hard to believe.

These "Audi-like situs" these days are coming out of the woodwork...

[WillTheGreat]

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

Did you not read? He then tried to take the car out of gear but it would not budge - and when he tried to pull out the key it would not turn in the ignition.

The he probably didn't hit the brakes to put it in Neutral. Because I find it hard to believe putting his car into CC would cause the brakes to malfunction and the gear selector to malfunction as well.

Brake, N and merge into safety with your emergency lights.

@60 mph the brakes should've at least slowed it down.

[Fraser]

I think the kid in question just wanted to make the news ... which he did, big time over here. Seriously though, how can the cruise control, the foot brake, the hand brake, the transmission and/or clutch, and the ignition key all fail at the same time. I know these things are called 'Ford Exploders' but this is ridiculous.
Funny thing was that while all this was happening and he was tearing down a busy freeway dodging other traffic he could calmly find the number for Ford PR and then ring them on his mobile phone. When that didn't work he called police emergency. Sounds like it was all pre-planned.

[Tleong]

I never understand these situations. My first reaction after realizing that something is wrong and I can't brake the car in any way, I would just grind the car against the medium to slow down and maybe eventually hit the car in the car in front of me to slow down some more.

[China Man]

i'm calling BS on this one ... at first the brakes wouldn't work, then slamming on them and pulling the e-brake slowed him down, he couldn't get out of gear, nor would the key turn?