>>Sorry, I couldn't find the thread on Toyota cars.

>>All of the American cars manufacturers and most foreign car manufacturers have this feature. I have to wonder why Toyota didn't add it.

>>

>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35659830/ns/business-autos/

Government weighs requiring brake overrides

Toyota officials back on Capitol Hill to testify about massive recalls

Associated Press, updated 6:08 p.m. ET, Tues., March. 2, 2010

The Obama administration is considering requiring all cars and trucks sold in the U.S. to have brakes that can override gas pedals to prevent sudden acceleration problems like those that led to reports of deaths and the recall of millions of Toyotas, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told Congress on Tuesday.

"We're looking at it," LaHood told the Senate Commerce Committee. "We think it is a good safety device."

His comments came as the government raised to 52 the number of reported deaths linked to runaway Toyota vehicles and as Toyota executives returned to Capitol Hill for the third time in a week to try to persuade lawmakers they are urgently fixing any problems.

there's more article here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35659830/ns/business-autos/

Unlike the previous neo-conservatives,

nothing neo about thieves, nor conservative leaving a deficit,

The Obama administration understands the importance of brake overrides,

both economically and automotively.

Moi

And he can multi-task too

Seriously, it should not have taken this long to develop standards for safety control of an electronic vehicle as my ole mechanical has a hydraulic brake, a cable emergency brake, and a system for switching into low or neutral or something. I wonder if I try turn it off if the steering wheel would lock?

Oh no! (I miss manual downshift control of the vehicle when only automatics were available in Califo-nia.)

Somewhere it time they use to make standards for all that stuff, like what is a D cell battery.

Moi

I went out and tested all three of my vehicles, 92 Olds Cutless, 98 Ford Windstar minivan and a 98 Dodge Dakota RT pickup. Amazingly, all 3 had brakes that would work even with the accelerator held down. But then the brakes are simple hydraulic devices with only anti-lock features in 2 of the 3.

Why should it seem surprising that Toyota would change the relative simple concept of having the accelerator connected to the throttle linkage and then having the ECU (Engine Control Unit) run off that and the brake system to run off the brake pedal to a system of electronic controls that integrate all these functions and then have their computer(s) function no better than your average Windows home unit? Gates and Company and even Apple have shown that they have had flaws in their units after they have been released despite thousand of man-hours in development.

Cars today have become so complex and they have forgotten the old KISS formula.

How right you are clysmaniac

River

It really is a shame that so many things have to be made "idiot proof". I'm all for any opportunities to let stupid people kill themselves but I guess with cars we have to consider that other people are at risk from idiots behind the wheel.

ramses (imported) wrote: Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:39 am It really is a shame that so many things have to be made "idiot proof". I'm all for any opportunities to let stupid people kill themselves but I guess with cars we have to consider that other people are at risk from idiots behind the wheel.

For shame Ramses, we all do stupid things from one time of another, everybody gets his/her turn.

River

ramses (imported) wrote: Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:39 am It really is a shame that so many things have to be made "idiot proof". I'm all for any opportunities to let stupid people kill themselves but I guess with cars we have to consider that other people are at risk from idiots behind the wheel.

Dear Ramses

You miss the point.

It is not about, idiot proof.

It is about, standards.

So if you drive an electronic GM, Toyota, Ford, etc. you have a standard for turning off the engine.

Currently it may vary from hold the button in to tap three times.

Get it?

Not idiot proof.

Standards.

Moi

Pragmatic Populist

ramses (imported) wrote: Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:39 am It really is a shame that so many things have to be made "idiot proof". I'm all for any opportunities to let stupid people kill themselves but I guess with cars we have to consider that other people are at risk from idiots behind the wheel.

The problem with this kind of thinking is that most of the time idiots don't die quickly, and in the meantime they require vast amounts of care which ultimately we all pay for. It would be wonderful if lighting up a cigarette killed quickly and efficiently, but it doesn't work that way.

And without adult supervision idiots can be a real pain, just consider the history of the US from 2000 to 2008.

In my younger, more cynical days, I often thought instead of an air bag on the steering wheel, there should be a simple shotgun shell in the steering column which would be aimed at the drivers chest and be activated in a substantial front end crash just like the air bag is. Think there would be more cautious driving and a substantially lower accident rate?

Dave (imported) wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:37 pm >>Sorry, I couldn't find the thread on Toyota cars.

>>All of the American cars manufacturers and most foreign car manufacturers have this feature. I have to wonder why Toyota didn't add it.

>>

>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35659830/ns/business-autos/

there's more article here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35659830/ns/business-autos/

Neither of these "sources" speak about other car companies having some special throttle cut off, when the brake is pressed, could you please provide more information about this?