Anybody else sick of these Prius stories on the news?!

[9deuce9rr]

I swear, there’s a minimum of 2 each week. It’s all the same problem, by the same car, I don’t think we need to keep hearing about it.

And I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m taking a bit of a different angle than what’s been said about it all: each one of these people need to have their licenses taken away for lack of common sense!
I DO believe a company should be held responsible for the problem, and their cars should be manufactured in the most failproof way (which is why I still think electronic throttle [fly by wire] is a horrible idea, and should always be mechanical).
But really?! Come on… Earlier this week, a man near Bakersfield drove over half an hour with his car at 90+ mph and had to call 911 to figure out how to slow it down. Police response: Step On Your Brakes!
Let’s say your gas pedal sticks and/or your car begins accelerating on it’s own, what happens next?!

1) you let off the gas and the pedal doesn’t come up b/c it’s stuck against the assembly used to increase pedal friction, or it is stuck behind the floor mat…….. take your foot OFF the pedal, stick your toes behind the pedal, and pull towards you. Crazy concept, but pretty sure it works out in your favor?

Or if it’s not stuck, but the electronics fail and it accelerates on its own?

2) I’m pretty sure neutral is still functional, perhaps you should try shifting into it?
3) Then you’re in neutral and your car starts revving real high? Maybe try shutting your car off? Sure your power brakes/steering go out, but I’m pretttty sure the majority of us don’t have power steering and we get around just fine. No power brakes could be a problem, but that e-brake handle works just fine to slow down your COASTING car if you use common sense and apply it gently.

If you cant figure out any of these… or you have to call 911 to have them tell you to step on your brake pedal after half an hour at almost 100mph, you should probably invest in a bike and/or a bus pass and get off the road! Sure it’s a scary experience, but take a second to gather your thoughts and put common sense to use

[/venting]

[Roger M]

Originally Posted by 9deuce9rr

I swear, there’s a minimum of 2 each week. It’s all the same problem, by the same car, I don’t think we need to keep hearing about it.

And I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m taking a bit of a different angle than what’s been said about it all: each one of these people need to have their licenses taken away for lack of common sense!
I DO believe a company should be held responsible for the problem, and their cars should be manufactured in the most failproof way (which is why I still think electronic throttle [fly by wire] is a horrible idea, and should always be mechanical).
But really?! Come on… Earlier this week, a man near Bakersfield drove over half an hour with his car at 90+ mph and had to call 911 to figure out how to slow it down. Police response: Step On Your Brakes!
Let’s say your gas pedal sticks and/or your car begins accelerating on it’s own, what happens next?!

1) you let off the gas and the pedal doesn’t come up b/c it’s stuck against the assembly used to increase pedal friction, or it is stuck behind the floor mat…….. take your foot OFF the pedal, stick your toes behind the pedal, and pull towards you. Crazy concept, but pretty sure it works out in your favor?

Or if it’s not stuck, but the electronics fail and it accelerates on its own?

2) I’m pretty sure neutral is still functional, perhaps you should try shifting into it?
3) Then you’re in neutral and your car starts revving real high? Maybe try shutting your car off? Sure your power brakes/steering go out, but I’m pretttty sure the majority of us don’t have power steering and we get around just fine. No power brakes could be a problem, but that e-brake handle works just fine to slow down your COASTING car if you use common sense and apply it gently.

If you cant figure out any of these… or you have to call 911 to have them tell you to step on your brake pedal after half an hour at almost 100mph, you should probably invest in a bike and/or a bus pass and get off the road! Sure it’s a scary experience, but take a second to gather your thoughts and put common sense to use

[/venting]

Co-signed

[chr2002ca]

Yep, I totally agree. People who are able to somehow call 911 and report that their car is accelerating out of control and yet for some reason can't put the car in Neutral are a bit puzzling to me also. Who knows if the foot behind the pedal would work, but Neutral should. Maybe they just enter a total state of panic and loss of reasoning abilities, or they just have a severe lack of knowledge of common car functions. Some people just lose it under pressure. I think stuff like that should be covered in the driver's manuals that people have to study to get their driver's license. Call it the 'Toyota' addendum.

[9deuce9rr]

Originally Posted by chr2002ca

People who are able to somehow call 911 and report that their car is accelerating out of control and yet for some reason can't put the car in Neutral are a bit puzzling to me also.

wonder if they got a d*ck cop on the scene and got a ticket for talking and driving

Originally Posted by chr2002ca

Call it the 'Toyota' addendum.

[Warpath Pontiac]

I agree with you 100%.

Originally Posted by 9deuce9rr

Then you’re in neutral and your car starts revving real high? Maybe try shutting your car off? Sure your power brakes/steering go out, but I’m pretttty sure the majority of us don’t have power steering and we get around just fine. No power brakes could be a problem, but that e-brake handle works just fine to slow down your COASTING car if you use common sense and apply it gently.

I can picture the "typical" person in this situation turning the car off and locking the steering wheel and hitting a pole/tree/car/etc. I still think it needs to be much harder to get a drivers license.

[tgvettes]

I say just don't buy Toyotas

Tonny

[ElkyZO6]

Originally Posted by tgvettes

I say just don't buy Toyotas

Tonny

I like your thinking.

[nowukno]

Originally Posted by tgvettes

I say just don't buy Toyotas

Tonny

X's 2

[byndbad914]

drive by wire is not your enemy - diesels have been using DxW tech for quite awhile and if it was the tech that was a problem, then you would have been reading about run away diesels long ago. Don't hear about Ford, Dodge or GM trucks taking off like crazy for example.

The short answer is just bad design by Toyota.

my rant - maybe it is a bit of karma for being and idiot and buying the Prius in the first place - that car is for sheep and other followers, not those that choose to educate themselves. The battery in that car is an absolute "nickel nightmare" as I call it and just buying that car has done more damage to the environment than buying a turbo diesel car that is twice the size and comfortable. I am getting on my box now so I will slow my roll and leave with this; I am really interested in all of this type of tech and can say that battery is horrible, but don't believe all the hype including that BS Hummer "study" as it is rather full of crap and bias just like a Prius owner will bias his own opinion, but reality is nickel battery production is NASTY. So maybe just a bit of what comes around goes around

[BRIAN]

I agree the stories are all over but I also think it is easy to be a judge when it isn't happening to you. Remember not everyone is a car person and it really hasn't anything to do with driving skills. Just like people who judge Cops who have to make life changing decisions in seconds under crazy pressure. Easy to critique while sitting comfortable writing on a computer.

Car is going 90mph with him standing on brakes as per report on news. I think most are scared to turn off the key as there is the fear on locking the column. The car stopped with him standing on the brake pulling the emergency brake and hitting the cop car in front of him. Sounds like pretty crazy situation to me? I usually drive with 2 kids in the back of my car and do not want that situation happening behind me I do not care who is behind the wheel.

Then again I would probably thank that so called d$%k cop for saving my life.