Why so few "runaway Toyota" incidents in the rest of the world?

Possibly Toyoda's opinion of Americans is right? We're idiots? Just a big third-world nation with a first-world nuclear arsenal? No one in this country can actually drive a car? How about: because we expect functionality, not just blind loyalty toward Toyota.

 

1. We are sue happy here in the USA. We always look for the quick buck.

2. GM is now Government Motors and the government is trying to protect its investment.

 

Maybe acceleration issues in other countries just get reported less often?
Toyota Owners Report Problems in Japan to No Avail - NYTimes.com

 

The second best integration and test team is any 2 year old child.

Bob Wilson

 

Because only in America can you make up bs, do a little show and then call up the media and get worldwide attention without any evidence to back it up yet.

I tested it out on my car, if your flooring it or doing basically anything and you hit the power button, it shifts into neutral. HAHA, he said he wouldn't hit the power button because he was afraid he'd be rear ended. /sigh wtv. This is getting absurd.

 

I'd guess it's public transportaion making a difference in the rest of the world that keeps asia / europe so much lower.

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It's a couple of factors, imo.

One, we drive a lot more than other countries. Two, we have lower driver standards than most developed nations. Three, a sizable portion of our population is simply ignorant. Four, we have a media that feeds on/into this ignorance.

ETA: Five, we have a culture that frowns upon accepting blame or admitting fault.

 

I would say this is pretty accurate.

Also that was one annoying episode.

 

How so? What other nations specifically?

 

Germany.

Tom

 

Or an American driver with an equivalent IQ - like the one with the runaway Prius yesterday...

 

Perhaps it is related to the number of lawyers per capita.

 

That pretty much sums it up. And the fact that if you can put your hands on the steering wheel and your foot on the pedal at the same time, you can get a driver's license in most states, and once you've got a license, neither senility nor blindness will get it taken away from you.

I do not mean to make light of the VERY FEW drivers who've had malfunctions. (Far fewer than murdered by Ford and GM with their death trap cars.) But once there's a reported malfunction, half the people who have themselves caused accidents will blame it on the car and try to sue somebody.

 

Yes, you guys (in US) are nuts! :banplease:

 

It is due to inflation. Zimbabwe hit into monetary one, while USA hit into lawyertary one.

 

Falstaff is under-appreciated in this country.

 

Ok, how so specifically? Just to be clear, I'm not being sarcastic here or trying to make a point. I'm genuinely curious. Does Germany (any others?) have stricter testing standards? More frequent renewal procedures? Stricter guidelines on driving with certain medical conditions, advanced age, criminal records, etc? More cops on the road? Harsher penalties for traffic violations?