New post (22) : Run-Away Toyota Prius Story “Debunked”.
First, let’s be clear. Any car can run away. Not just a Toyota.
Toyota actually has a better record on this than other cars on the road. The stats bear this out.
Let’s take a back to basics look at this matter.
Consider this:
What we have is 21st century cars …….with 20th century floor-pedals.
Drivers have 2 feet…………So why 3 pedals. (assuming manual gear shift using the clutch)
Why do both the break and accelerator pedals work the same way---by being pressed down.
Feet do not have eyes.
The pedals are used “intuitively”. Which is fine in the normal but not so in special situations.
Consider these 2 situations in which drivers (can & do) end up “groping blindly with their feet”:
1. When Suddenly realizing that the car up front is too close.
( Or say a kid runs across the street unexpectedly ).
The panic reaction ? The accelerator (can and) is slammed down hard mistakenly so instead of the brake.
2. When reversing the car, while driver physically turns around (and does not sit upright and use the rear view mirror)
The accelerator (can and) is pressed down mistakenly instead of the brake.
A simple solution to consider:
Brake pedal works when pressed down by foot.
(and) Accelerator pedal works when lifted (or pushed sideways) by foot.
Sure, it will take some getting used to.
Will the legal minded hawks stop confusing the issue and call a halt to scape goating Toyota ?..................................... I doubt it.
Talk about profiting from “a created” panic+hysteria.
Charlie Brown
