Posted on 03/10/2010 6:12:49 PM PST by Kaslin
Auto Safety: As a Toyota Prius with a stuck accelerator races down a California freeway, no one mourns the victims of the fuel economy standards imposed by Congress. Forced into smaller cars, thousands have died.
We can barely imagine the panic felt by James Sikes, 61, as his Toyota Prius accelerated uncontrollably while he drove down Interstate 8 in San Diego County. We can imagine the continuation of the grandstanding by the owners of "government motors" as they further browbeat a competitor of government-run GM and Chrysler.
We do not minimize the safety issues here that need to be addressed, but we feel a sense of perspective is sorely needed. Toyota has been accused of cutting corners in the name of profit. The Congress that now huffs and puffs in righteous indignation can be accused of increasing the carnage on the nation's highways in the name of saving gasoline.
Sudden-acceleration events in Toyota and Lexus vehicles have been blamed for at least 19 fatalities and 815 vehicle crashes since 1999. That's fewer than two fatalities a year in a country that makes 1.8 million cars annually. How many crashes and fatalities are caused by the use of cell phones and text-messaging while driving?
Let us take a look at the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards enacted by the federal government in response to the Arab oil embargo. Lately, supporters have sought to increase these standards in the name of fighting climate change. They have neither reduced our dependence on foreign oil nor saved the Earth.
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
Uhhh, the prius isn’t so small...
The schmuck had time and senses to dial 911? Gimme a break. I’ve driven a Prius (as a rental) and it’s all you can do to keep it OUT of neutral with the little knob for the transmission.
If the computer fritzes out, you’re not shifting anything - the Prius is shift-by-wire.
We can imagine, because he told us he was scared to put the car in neutral because it might "flip". I put my Prius into neutral at 40mph tonight, and it nicely disconnected -- I still have to try at 90mph.
Further it makes people buy cars they don’t want because the price of cars you do want is driven up by CAFE standards. D@MN Congress critters!!
I take a 2-week driving vacation with my wife and 2 kids in the Prius. It’s not big, but it’s not small.
I ran one Prius into a concrete post at 20mph, and walked away without a scratch (with some bruises from the seat belt). It’s not a dangerous car.
Does make one wonder why he didn’t put it neutral and pull safely off the road.
But then the cop car couldn’t pull up, back up to his bumper and make that great photo op, eh?
I just don't buy all these stories.
I had a 2010 Prius as a rental last month on a business trip. Aside from the styling, I was impressed.
The Camry is throttle by wire, but not shift by wire where it counts.
Also, several of the Camry/Avalons that have been affected have actually made it back to dealerships and been witnessed by multiple people, so the problem’s real.
You mean other than the fact that if the computer goes nuts, you can’t put a Prius in neutral?
He was afraid it would flip over
It seems there’s a whole lot of people that can’t remember what a *SMALL* car is!
datsun 240
honda cvcc
chevy sprint
ford fiesta
opel gt
If you go by interior space, a prius would be a full size family car and a 1986 ford thunderbird would be a compact car.
why would neutral make a car flip? Is this guy stupid or is he up to something?
He lives in California and drives a Prius.
IMHO, he’s stupid by definition.
I suspect he was faking it to ramp up his lawsuit against toyota. Call 911 and get a cop to save your life...that’s gotta really make the jurors SWOON!
CHA-CHING, baby!
True. Let me add Chevy Chevette, Renault LeCar and Datsun B210 to the list.
Maybe, and while yes, the media is blowing this way out of proportion, there really *is* a SUA problem with the throttle by wire Toyotas.
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