General Chat

Yes Bob - I saw that program.

Hi Bob

I see your point about turning off the ignition for a manual car but ...... if they panic and take out the key the steering lock will come on ..... making it even worse! People do unpredictable things when they go pear shaped.

Honda are the latest to do a recall to recify 'spongey brakes'.

wasnt there a episode of Top Gear where Hammond, I think (in the states, this was) was driving a car that had a remote gadget, that as long as it was in range the car was " LIVE" and could be started,and driven, although he wasnt in it? and Clarkson "Parked" it in the road?

Bob

No Ann,

turning off the ignition is ok provided you dont remove the key!!

Bob

ps 5 months to go!!

It was a button ignition in the story I read. He had to press it repeatedly before it would stop.

Rose

surely if you turn the ignition off the steering would lock? Better to put it into neutral, not being able to steer would be dangerous.

A comment, " Lifted " From a toyota prius site.....

Obviously it is good that this gentleman is safe... But I agree that the brakes would do the job. This driver's comment was that he had to "stand on the brakes". It is easy for us to judge what should have been done. As mentioned, shifting to neutral is the simple answer. In fact, moving the shifter in any direction is better than nothing... Here's the confusing part. I have never seen any freeway where I was able to travel at 96 mph for an extended period of time without meeting some obstacle. Let alone, be in a panic situation, make a 911 phone call, doing 96 mph, one handed, out of control, sustain this speed until a police car is able to come alongside me... At this point we are both side by side, 96 mph, using two lanes, still no other obstacles... Then the story said the policeman told him to apply the brakes as well as the emergency brake... Not sure why we were putting off using the emergency brake, yet we have time for a phone call... I picture a teenager that texts and drives, having trouble juggling all this... Anyway, for that policeman trying to help, neutral is your answer... And if one has to stand on the brakes to slow the vehicle, I recommend standing on the brakes. This story said that the braking system is what ended up saving him... There has got to be more to this story.

I don't have any experience of the Prius, but like you Bob, I often wonder what really happens with these runaway cars. Like you say, you'd think people would take action like switching off the ignition, or dip the clutch, knock it out of gear, apply handbrake, footbrake?? The accelerator sticking is not a new thing.....it often would happen on the old cars and if you couldn't free it with a jab of the foot, you'd use these other ways to stop the car. It didn't need to 'runaway'.

I have travelled hundreds of miles in a Prius,both motorways and country roads.- here and in France
We have not had a moment of problem and would gladly buy a new model.

I think only certain models are in question though.

I'm not a driver, so can't speak about the technical side of things.

EDIT
Daughter has a Jazz, another supposedly 'troubled' car. She has had no problems and drives it every day.

Gwyn

Does anyone have any experience of this troubled vehicle?
there is yet another case of "It ran away out of control"
up to 94 MPH........
a highway patrol car was needed to get in front of one and use ITS brakes to stop the Toyota

Toyota basically,(in THIS case)are saying that this is rubbish and there is nothing wrong with the throttle pedal control, at all!

in any case dont they have an ignition key? or something? surely, unless the computer is entirely nonresponsive. turning off the ignition ,that should stop the engine?

maybe I am being a bit cynical about these "Runaways"..

Bob

LOL these Engine control computers, as far as I know dont use windows software.......LOL..LOL

.......and the like........