Ethiopian Review

Chuck Thomas – CleanMPG – Mar 20, 2010

Growing up, I first learned to drive in a 1961 Corvair, so you know that was going to raise issues – the car has unique handling aside from safety issues. Going to a 1969 Cutlass with power brakes – I just found that strange. In fact, the brakes were so easy I thought it was the accelerator and punched a hold in the garage for fear of hitting what felt like the accelerator.

I’m wondering if drive-by-wire is confusing drivers like power brakes did to me – can’t tell the accelerator from the brakes.

The unintended sudden acceleration incidents prior to 2010 – particularly the Saylor crash in California is something Toyota needs to resolve. For the incidents reported in 2010, it looks very much like Toyota is not responsible. In the instance of the New York runaway Prius case, I’d like to suggest it may be an honest mistake made in panic. While I think the Prius is not the cause of the crash, maybe the brake should have a feel that has distinctly more resistance than the accelerator so drivers don’t get confused in emergencies (or accidently create one).

When Audi had a similar situation, they put more distance between the brake and the accelerator. I think some human engineering could resolve many of these cases where it’s honest driver error….