Early Tests Pin Toyota Accidents on Drivers

[thundley4]

The U.S. Department of Transportation has analyzed dozens of data recorders from Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles involved in accidents blamed on sudden acceleration and found that the throttles were wide open and the brakes weren't engaged at the time of the crash, people familiar with the findings said.

The early results suggest that some drivers who said their Toyotas and Lexuses surged out of control were mistakenly flooring the accelerator when they intended to jam on the brakes.

But the findings—part of a broad, ongoing federal investigation into Toyota's recalls—don't exonerate the car maker from two known issues blamed for sudden acceleration in its vehicles: "sticky" accelerator pedals that don't return to idle and floor mats that can trap accelerators to the floor.

The findings by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration involve a sample of the reports in which a driver of a Toyota vehicle said the brakes were depressed but failed to stop the car from accelerating and ultimately crashing.

A NHTSA spokeswoman declined to comment on the findings, which haven't been released by the agency.

The data recorders analyzed by NHTSA were selected by the agency, not Toyota, based on complaints the drivers had filed with the government. Toyota hasn't been involved in interpreting the data.

WSJ

Will this be widely publicized ?  Of course the goal of the UAW this administration has been accomplished. Toyota's reputation has suffered serious damage.

[Eupher]

From the article:

One case studied by U.S. regulators involves Myrna Marseille of Kohler, Wis., who reported in March that her 2009 Toyota Camry accelerated out of control and crashed into a building.

Ms. Marseille said in an interview Tuesday that she was entering a parking space near a library when she heard the engine roar. "I looked down and my foot was still on the brake, so I did not have my foot on the gas pedal," she said.

Police in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., investigated and believe driver error was to blame, Chief Steven Riffel said Tuesday. He said surveillance video showed that the brake lights didn't illuminate until after the crash. But Mr. Riffel said that determination is preliminary and that his agency has turned over the investigation to NHTSA.

Based on the black box data, NHTSA investigators found that the brake was not engaged and the throttle was wide open, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Ms. Marseille sticks by her story. "It makes me very angry when someone tells me, 'She probably hit the gas pedal instead,' because I think it's a sexist comment, an ageist comment," she said.

Sexist comment. "Ageist" comment.

Check.

Ms. Marseille, your license needs to be revoked for permanent, liberal, stupidity. Who in their right mind is going to look down at their feet and positively confirm that at least one of those feet is firmly planted on the brake while the car hurtles forward in a parking lot? Rather than watch where the car is going?

You, my dear lady, are a tool and a moron.  

License revoked. No more trips to the library for you, unless you're being chauffeured. BTW, do you need a magnifying lens to read while you're in the library?

[Chris_]

I could have told you that.... without a stupid study.  lol

People can't drive.

This story will not be big.  I'm surprised the US DOT even did this investigation to begin with.  I figured they just wanted to knock out one of their biggest competitors.

[IassaFTots]

I heard it on my local news radio station today, it partners with CBS.  Since it gives me traffic updates every 8 minutes, that is my go-to station in the am.  Their news trends a bit left, so I was pretty shocked to hear it in their main news line up.

Two reflections:

1.  Can any woman out there easily look down to see which foot is on which pedal?  I ask, because I am vertically impaired, and there is no way I can glance down and see my feet, without taking my eyes completely off the road, as I would have to duck my head down. 

2.  My new car has those little buttons that you hook your floor mat to, to keep in in place.  It is a Saturn, I would have assumed that Toyota/Lexus has the same set up.  I never noticed it really, until I got my car cleaned out, and the dudes didn't snap the mat back in.  Sure enough as I was driving out, the dang thing crept right up under my pedals.  DANGER.  Now, I check every time I get my car cleaned. 

[JohnnyReb]

Several years ago an elderly lady picked up her repaired car at a local shop. It was inside the building when she paid and they let her get in the car to back it out. She started backing out then suddenly it was floored. She sped across the garage parking area, across a highway, through some undergrowth and into a lake where she drowned. It got ugly. Needless to say, if you ever repair someones car, park it in the parking area pointed toward the exist so that they never have to back up on your property.

[Eupher]

I could have told you that.... without a stupid study.  lol

People can't drive.

This story will not be big.  I'm surprised the US DOT even did this investigation to begin with.  I figured they just wanted to knock out one of their biggest competitors.

I like pointing out the obvious. 

[Eupher]

I heard it on my local news radio station today, it partners with CBS.  Since it gives me traffic updates every 8 minutes, that is my go-to station in the am.  Their news trends a bit left, so I was pretty shocked to hear it in their main news line up.

Two reflections:

1.  Can any woman out there easily look down to see which foot is on which pedal?  I ask, because I am vertically impaired, and there is no way I can glance down and see my feet, without taking my eyes completely off the road, as I would have to duck my head down. 

2.  My new car has those little buttons that you hook your floor mat to, to keep in in place.  It is a Saturn, I would have assumed that Toyota/Lexus has the same set up.  I never noticed it really, until I got my car cleaned out, and the dudes didn't snap the mat back in.  Sure enough as I was driving out, the dang thing crept right up under my pedals.  DANGER.  Now, I check every time I get my car cleaned. 

My 2004 Toyota Sienna has the floormat hooks. No problem.