I’ve been appalled by the deaths caused by Toyotas with stuck gas pedals. But if this were to happen, couldn’t an accident be avoided by simply putting the car in neutral or turning off the ignition switch? This seems so evident to me, but the driver who was killed in California in the wreck that triggered the recall was a highway patrolman, so you would think he would know to do that, and I don’t own a Toyota product so I can’t try it myself. Would either of these action work in a stuck-gas pedal situation…?
Yes, both would work, but shifting into neutral is a much better idea than turning it off, which requires holding down the ‘start button’ for over 3 seconds, and reduces braking and steering assist.
This has already been discussed in numerous threads. Please read those.
I searched high and low on this board for prior relevant postings but came up empty. Could you provide a tag line that would help?
Try the search phrase “stuck throttle.” Here is what I found:
http://community.cartalk.com/posts/list/2136282.page
http://community.cartalk.com/posts/list/2136280.page
http://community.cartalk.com/posts/list/2136374.page
http://community.cartalk.com/posts/list/2136202.page
Thanks. That answers my question. Now I’m stuck with wondering why a highway patrol officer would call 911 on his cellphone rather than slip the car into neutral. You’d expect this guy would perform better when in peril.
PUT IT IN NEUTRAL
PUT IT IN NEUTRAL
PUT IT IN NEUTRAL
PERIOD
Any car,
any brand,
All the rest comes after that.
I honestly wouldn’t have believed that anyone, espcially a highway patrolman, would wrecked and die with this problem. It seemed so obvious to me, but my wife agrees how the general public might not think that way.
I’m so sorry to hear of that.
Someone somewhere needs to buy air time and bill board space, and eblazon upon that
- PUT IT IN NEUTRAL -
as the very first words uttered or shown.
When training for emergency actions, the instantaneous gut reaction has to be second nature DEEP DOWN in one’s sub concious so that no thought occurs at all, it just happens.
If we’re going to train the general public about ANY vehicle’s stuck accelerator this is where we start. With those words “in your face” at it were, peoples sub concious will remember that first and many lives can be saved.
I saw a news piece the other day about Toyota’s accelerators and was APPAULED that the words “put it in neutral” were not uttered until near the end of the piece !
Here at my ford dealer, customers are asking about all their cars. It’s a concern accross the board, not just Toyotas.
The first words we are in fact “put it in neutral”.
Then we discuuss the actions after that re-itterating "put it in neutral.
bump.
to be read with “sticky gas pedals”
In the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s classes, the students learn to shut off their engines with the engine cut-off switch. If a student is seen using the key to shut off the engine, he is scolded. It’s all about muscle memory.
Maybe these hyper-milers who are coasting in neutral have the right idea. Every once in a while, when pulling into the driveway, put it in neutral and slowly coast into the driveway. Once a week should be enough, and since you are shifting into park after you stop, you won’t really be putting any additional stress on the transmission. Get in the habit, just for fun, and it will pay off if you ever need it.
We are told: "Simply brake with 2 feet, put the car into neutral then turn the engine off."
MAY NOT BE SO SIMPLE! Watch 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
The problem is panic. It’s very difficult to keep a cool head. Even the best can panic.
You CAN try “unintended acceleration”, on a non-Toyota car (as well as on a Toyota vehicle). On a clear section of highway, press the gas pedal to the floor at, say 40 mph, then, firmly depress the brake pedal. If you haven’t over-heated the brakes (and, made them ineffective), pull off the road, stop, and shut off the engine. If the brakes aren’t slowing/stopping the car, puut the gear shift into neutral, or, turn the engine OFF with the ignition key OR with the start/stop button. The car WILL still have brakes and steering, THOUGH, they may become very heavy.
Unfortunately, some peoples’ minds can’t contain: either, or, and also, actions in an urgent situation. For them, it would be: Brake!, Neutral, Steer, Stop.
I am of the opinion that among the several stories regarding Toyota problems some are owners wishing to cash in on the hysteria and media wishing to air the story for the same reason. At my age I have dealt with stuck throttles on several occasions on disparate vehicles, and even heavy equipment. It wasn’t luck and definitely not genius on my part that saved me. I just don’t understand how mature, experienced drivers could be totally at the mercy of a machine.