Why the "Out of Control" Prius Driver Is Full of It

[Danny]

A new story entry has been added:

Why the "Out of Control" Prius Driver Is Full of It

While we don't have any technical information provided by an in-depth investigation yet, yesterday's "out of control" Prius story just doesn't pass the smell test. Well, it does, but that aroma is BS.
Let's look at why:

[Eoin]

Do I smell a lawsuit?

Or a new reality show with home videos showing near-death experiences in Priuses. Suggested title: Prius Panic! Possible star actor: balloon boy's dad (when he gets out of jail)

[zenMachine]

Another perspective...

Runaway Prius? More like runaway media hype MarketWatch First Take - MarketWatch

[Politburo]

I said it in another thread, but I'll say it again here. It really sounds like pedal interference. That can reasonably explain all of the observations and also explains why the parking brake would provide braking when the (obstructed) brake pedal did not.

[austingreen]

Originally Posted by Danny

A new story entry has been added:

Why the "Out of Control" Prius Driver Is Full of It

I rhink we should wait for some more information before calling the driver a lier about hitting the brakes.

We do not yet know what is wrong with the car. I would say it is more likely that there was not a working brake cut off, than the driver lied about hitting the brakes. Let's at least wait for someone to read the erd (if toyota will not fight it in court this time) before jumping to any conclusions that a youtube video is proof of driver dishonesty.

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by austingreen

I rhink we should wait for some more information before calling the driver a lier about hitting the brakes.

<snip>

Is it okay if we bash him for not powering off or shifting to N?

Tom

[Gokhan]

Originally Posted by Danny

A new story entry has been added:

Why the "Out of Control" Prius Driver Is Full of It

He didn't say he was going 90 MPH when people were passing him. He said he reached 90 at one point in time.

Since he couldn't move the accelerator pedal by hand, it looks like the pedal was not stuck.

I don't see why the guy would make up the whole thing. To me this is looking more and more like there is an electronics bug in Toyota accelerator systems. In the Toyota hearings in Washington, the university expert had testified that the two parallel circuits in Toyota accelerator systems were not independent as they were supposed to be and they don't detect faults because of that. That's probably the cause of the problem -- accelerator sensors accidentally saturating and the two circuits not seeing the fault and thinking that there is a full-throttle input.

[FCBarca]

Just as a recap, should a Prius go into 'runaway' mode what are the recommended steps to come to a stop or safely pull over?

Apart, of course, from freaking out

[sa68ta]

Here's European viewpoint on "Acceleration Horror Stories"

Nevertheless, it remains unclear as to whether the cars involved in those accidents were actually defective. The same cars exist around the world, but no accidents of this type have occurred anywhere outside of North America. There were also cases of stuck Toyota gas pedals in Germany. The drivers braked successfully, and notified their car dealerships. None of them met their deaths.

Full story (Spiegel, Germany):
Tribulations at Toyota: The Search for the Gas Pedal Flaw - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International

[Rangerdavid]

No real excuse for not pushing the power button. Dumbass. Something really just doesn't smell right to me here. My wife says it must all be ligit sine the cops were involved. I disagree. Still doesn't pass the smell test.

Guess we'll wait and see. Tom, yes, we should pound him for not pushing the power button or shifting in to N. He endangered a lot of folks by not doing so.