Hello,
I have a 2005 Toyota Corolla with Automatic Transmission, and my car was NOT
one listed in the Toyota Accelerator Pedal Problem Recall.
However, I have wondered about the advice given for how to respond to a
stuck accelerator while driving.
We are advised to first apply constant steady pressure with both feet to the
brake, then to move the drive shift into NEUTRAL, and if unable to move into
neutral for any reason, turn the key one notch to Accessory position.
My question is would one be able to move the gearshift into neutral OR to
turn the key to Accessory position in an automatic transmission car IF THE
CAR WAS ALREADY MOVING AT HIGH SPEEDS???
I am asking this because I am surprised that neither the trained police
officer who was driving, nor the two other adults in the car that crashed in
California killing all 4 passengers, would have tried these 2 simple steps
during the full 5 minutes from when his pedal stuck and the crash.
Could there have been any reason that the police officer driving DID try
these 2 steps and they did not work???
Neutral first then slowly steer and brake car to a safe place to park…no need to panic…once car is in neutral acceleration will stop. Not everyone thinks clearly at the time of an emergency. Don’t turn key - you will loose power steering.
My question is would one be able to move the gearshift into neutral OR to
turn the key to Accessory position in an automatic transmission car IF THE
CAR WAS ALREADY MOVING AT HIGH SPEEDS???
It would be the first car I ever heard of that had a problem with that.
P.S. If you would like to listen to the audio of the 911 call of that California stuck pedal crash drive by a police officer, you can do so at:
http://market-ticker.org/archives/1922-Toyota-Cars-See,-I-Told-You-So.html or
also from news story:
911 Call Released from Crash that Prompted Initial Toyota/Lexus Floor Mat Recall
http://www.cardealerreviews.org/?p=247148
Very sad case… a child was one of the 4 people killed.
FYI: You can call Toyota Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 with your car’s VIN number and they can tell you whether that car is part of the recall
Another resource: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Hotline at 888-327-4236
Every car I have or had can/could be shifted to neutral while moving. It’s hard to imagine that this is not true for all cars. If it isn’t, then it should be one of the many feature mandated for safety.
I was watching a harness race when one of the reins broke(the driver pulled too hard while trying to straighten out the horse). The driver climbed out of the sulky and onto the back of the horse, brought the horse under control and got the horse off the track. This really brouht applause from the audience. Seems to me that an automobile driver ought to be able to shift to neutral and get a car safely off the road, if a harness race driver can bring his horse under control with what must have been worse than a stuck accelerator.
We are told: "Simply put the car into neutral then turn the engine off."
MAY NOT BE SO SIMPLE! Check out these video clips:
TESTIMONY OF TOYOTA DRIVER WHO ‘LOST ALL CONTROL’
(after putting car in neutral and unable to turn off engine!!!)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8533129.stm
and
"IS TOYOTA’S SOFTWARE TO BLAME FOR SAFETY PROBLEMS"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8535477.stm
and the CA crash:
“911 Call Released from Crash that Prompted Initial Toyota/Lexus Floor Mat Recall”
(with California Highway Patrolman driving unable to stop vehicle)
http://www.cardealerreviews.org/?p=247148
"Witnesses saw flames coming from the front and rear tires of the speeding 2009 Lexus ES 350 before it crashed Aug. 28 in Santee, suggesting ?long, constant heavy braking,? said Sgt. Scott Hill, the lead sheriff’s investigator. "
"Toyota Recalls Spur Worries"
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123341958