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February 27, 2010 - 10:24am
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But how will we protect ourselves from rogue Toyotas?
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Clearly the Prius driver will not protect you:
EL CAJON, Calif. -
"A California Highway Patrol officer helped slow a runaway Toyota Prius from 94 mph to a safe stop on Monday after the car's accelerator became stuck on a San Diego County freeway, the CHP said."
"Prius driver James Sikes called 911 about 1:30 p.m. after accelerating to pass another vehicle on Interstate 80 near La Posta and finding that he could not control his car, the CHP said."
The best part:
"A patrol car pulled alongside the Prius and officers told Sikes over a loudspeaker to push the brake pedal to the floor and apply the emergency brake."
Odd concept this: car going too fast, squeeze the brakes hard.
I appreciate my view is different given how much time I have spent on road race course - but the average driver doesn't appreciate that the brakes will stop the car?
And doesn't know that the brakes are vastly more powerful than the engine?
We need to start re-testing drivers.
Part of me is dubious as to the veracity of the driver's misadventure.
Well, now Toyota has a known specimen to dissect, at any rate.
When these Toyotas go berserk, no ability to shift into neutral?
The accelerator pedal seems to get a signal to physically press itself to the floor, so at least they know that aspect of the claimed problem.
The part about the trooper talking the guy down is interesting, as you point out.
An odd situation, to be sure.
Apparently it takes next to nothing to make the average (low level) driver to freak out compeletely. Major lack of routine and comprehensive view, I'd say
Yes. Reminiscent of the Audi sudden acceleration; people swore their foot was pushing hard on the brake when the actually had the foot-feed on the floor.
Nope.
Nor turn off the ignition.
nor immediately hit the brake hard.
Everything seizes up in HAL-gone-berserk fashion.
Until someone looks at it and then HAL behaves nicely.
I don't doubt there are some issues that need to be resolved, but a good deal of the problem appears to be the warmware between the steering wheel and the seat.
I could not ponder the inability of the brakes to overcome the acceleration, either. Car and Driver reported that, apparently, timid drivers are modulating the brake pedal lightly to slow the vehicle against acceleration, and in the process, burning the brakes to the point of ineffectiveness as the vehicle continues to run.
Don't fuck around, people! Just stomp the brakes, pull over and shut the damn thing off. We're gonna pay thru the nose for the tort lawyers to get rich with their idiot clients, who don't know how their most expensive possession (besides their home and stereo)
operates.
Long, light application of the brakes will cause overheating. They then quickly fade.
I haven't seen the article, but I understand Car and Driver also tested a Camry at 70 mph braking with the throttle on the floor. The car stops fine, with just an increase in braking of distance of under 100 feet. Even at 120 mph and full throttle the car will slow to ten MPH before they overheat. (Then turn it off, shift into neutral, etc.)
I protect myself from the rogue Toyotas by driving my large GMC Yukon or driving my Mustang GT so I can out accelerate them!
This AP report today on the latest Prius freak-out:
"Neibert (CHP officer) told Sikes (Prius driver) after the CHP caught up with him to shift to neutral but the driver shook his head no. Sikes told reporters he didn't go into neutral because he worried the car would flip."
That's right. Flip. What a maroon...
What is "neutral" on a Prius, pray tell?
Does it even have a clutch?
http://www.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car6.htm
No, it doesn't.
If the electronics go bonkers, yer scrawed.
As I understand it, certain markets received substandard components from a different manufacturer than others.
Toyota ads are still all over the TV here.
Video shows how to shift Prius into neutral while accelerator is floored: Don't panic!
I think the guy with the Prius in California is a hater. Probably has connections with the auto manufacturing union in Detriot. I mean, come on people. Your accelerater getting stuck happens enough that we were all taught in Drivers Ed to put the vehicle in N and turn the ignition off and slowly brake and pull off the road when you can safely do that. If a person can't figure this out then they need to die. Stupid people need to die. I don't like stupid people. Toyota should give their recalled vehicles to charity. Toyota should give this Prius to the guy in Australia.
That's Lamont's way of telling you he loves you , Dave.
Welcome back. I missed you.
One more time... "Runaway" Prius
I wuz in a Prius two days ago, when I mentioned the runaway Prius the driver explained all one needs to do to stop the engine in an emergency is put the car in neutral for 3 seconds and the car automatically turns off. Nice safety feature.
Yes, the hysteria is a real sociology lesson. There's a video link I posted previously that shows Prius drivers what happens when neutral is engaged while the accelerator is floored. The car slows down!
I like how our government has tried to set people's minds at ease during this 'crisis.'
This was a real winner:
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that Toyota owners should "stop driving" their recalled vehicles until they're fixed.
"We need to fix the problem so people don't have to worry about disengaging the engine or slamming the brakes on or put it in neutral...If anybody owns [one] of these vehicles, stop driving it and take it to a Toyota dealer."
Good thing he doesn't work for a tobacco company, gun manufacturer, or alcohol maker!