Runaway Prius Needed Help to Stop: CHP

NBCSanDiego.com ^ | 3/8/10 | R. STICKNEY

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

California Highway Patrol officers say their patrol car acted as a brake for a Toyota Prius with a stuck accelerator Monday.

The car, headed eastbound on Interstate 8, was going at a high rate of speed because the accelerator was stuck, according to CHP spokesperson Brian Pennings.

The patrol car moved in front of the Prius and engaged its brakes to bring the Prius to a stop, according to CHP.

The car eventually stopped on the highway near the La Posta Bridge in the area of the Golden Acorn Casino.

[gunsequalfreedom]

I'm inclinded to agree with you. This one seems odd. The guy's car accelerates uncontrollably but there is still enough time for the CHP to get to him.

Did they happen to be very near him when he made the call?

He could think to dial his cell phone but could not think to move the gearshift to neutral?

Now going to read the full article to see what I missed.

[elkfersupper]

Is there a reason (besides stupidity) why the ingition can’t be turned to the off position on these cars?

There's a stupid little button you have to press and hold for 3 seconds.

Hard to do while braking, steering, talking on your cell phone, doing your makeup and listening to NPR on the radio.

[HiTech RedNeck]

There is a small angle in which the key can be turned to shut off the engine but not lock the wheel. Good luck finding that position in a runaway situation.

[UB355]

I was driving a fire engine non emergency when the return spring on the gas pedal broke. Now that was a ride.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

I’ve heard from Toyota owners where I work that they’ve been told by their Toyota dealer technicians that it is a software problem.

And, as we all know, Japanese software is shakey, at best.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Even the reporter might not get it right. An interview with the fellow would be interesting.

[BlueDragon]

do_not_want_weirdo_machine!

[ScottinSacto]

The wife has a Prius and you are right. It is push button on/off and regulated by the computer. It also doesn’t have the traditional shifter....rather a joystick with Drive Neutral and Reverse which is regulated by the computer. The thing is all computer regulated....if it goes I guess you go with it. It is a lease and I imagine she can offer like $800 to purchase it when the lease is up.

[-YYZ-]

“People are idiots put the fricking thing in neutral and stop”

I’m pretty skeptical about this whole thing, but...

I’m also somewhat leery of cars where almost no control has any actual direct control over anything mechanically. In a Prius the steering wheel is mechanically connected to the front wheels - but all the other controls? Braking is electronically controlled to enable the regnerative braking. Accelerator is not directly connected to anything. Shift lever - no mechanical connection to anything other than the Park pawl. So if the electronic systems go awry, who knows what may happen? Same ECU that controls the throttle also controls the brakes and the transmission. I’m still skeptical, but stranger things have happened.

[Mr Rogers]

Dunno if I would trust a set-up like this!

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Glad to hear that you’re here to tell about it!

[gunsequalfreedom]

He was late for work and speeding. When he saw the cop he knew he was going to get a ticket. Thinking as fast as his lead foot had his car traveling he said to himself, call 911 and tell them my Toyota is out of control. To make it look real, mash the gas pedal and ride the brakes to heat them up.

Maybe...?

[BOBWADE]

I helped a friend work on his 73 camaro about 20 years ago and scared the crap out of both of us. The previous owner had taken off the 4 barrel and put on an adaptor and a 2 barrel. Scott got a hold of some large valve 64 cc chamber heads from an old LT1 engine and had them worked over. We put on the heads and a torker II manifold/camshaft set along with a set of headers. It all went together real nice and ran great with holley 750 carb. The problem was when we tried to hook up the linkage to the carb. It was an inch or so short and we were too anxious to wait so we took a piece of wire and created a link. The problem was that the part where we twisted the wire together into a link had a section hanging off that did not catch until he mashed the petal. Here we are on Missouri blvd in Jefferson City MO at around midnight when he floored it and the linkage got caught wide open. His tac hit about 7000 with the tires blazing and all he could do was hit second. I knew we had a problem when we hit about 80 (in a 35) and he was kicking the floor repeatedly as his eyes looked as big as silver dollars. It wasn't until he was tac'n out in second gear that he thought about turning off the ignition. Thankfully all that happened was burning off half of his tire tread and the crap stains in his seats. hehe
Could have been a lot worse.

[gunsequalfreedom]

I believe that the computer sensor has to recognize that brake is on to allow you to put it into park or neutral. When these cars get possessed the computer doesn’t recognize that the brake pedal is pressed so it doesn’t slow the car or allow it to go into neutral or park.

Really? That is how they work? Not trying to sound sarcastic, just never heard that before.

[gunsequalfreedom]

They probably caught him speeding and he just said the accelerator was stuck... LOL...

Hey, you thought of that first. I thought of it further down the thread. What do they say about great minds!

[TankerKC]

...a high rate of speed...

Journalism annoyance number 1037.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Software varies in quality like any other product. It is a little known fact outside the geek world that proving nontrivial software to be 100% correct is impossible. It can work well in every test conceived by man, but only God knows if it will always work as intended.

[elkfersupper]

Texas. Mid '70's. How did we live through it?

Gratefully, with great vigor.

Add the driver turning off the headlights and doing the Fosbury Flop into the back seat while the passengers flop around and that was me.

[-YYZ-]

“B”? What the heck does “B” stand for?

[gunsequalfreedom]

I agree