Toyota UA-LAC

[Scruggs Family]

Four comments... one is that I've just bought a 2010 Toyota Highlander and
am waiting 'with interest' for both the cause and solution of the current
situation.  Wife and I have discussed what to do should uncommanded
acceleration occur.  Essentially... brake hard, go to neutral if you have
to, switch off ...we have the Sport version without the 'smart key' thing. 

Two... I had a throttle stick about 15 years ago on an '87 Camry just as we
got on to the Fredrick Douglas bridge across the Anacostia River leaving
D.C.  I didn't want to stop on the bridge so I pulled the automatic into
first to trade speed for rpm, the bridge has a rather sharp curve toward the
end so I braked hard about four times and when within sight of a pull off
area the end of the bridge I cut the ignition.  Yes the brakes smelled hot
but were un damaged.  Quick check revealed the cruise control cable had come
loose and jammed the throttle cable.  Took an entire bottle of wine to
becalm the wife.  

Three... All modern brake systems are more powerful than brakes.  It is not
a matter of German vs Japanese vs anyone... push both pedals to the floor
and see what happens.  You'll stop.  

Four... Comments on the Airbus flight control system just begin to describe
the complexity of the software of those systems.  Not well known is that
Sullenberger's Hudson River landing, about a year ago, was the result of
Airbus' software.  The digital engine control software was configured such
that in the event of engine 'sub-optimization' the engine will automatically
shut down.  The geese didn't damage the engines to the point of shutdown but
they did cause the software to see the difference between what the pilot
called for and what the engine was delivering and noting the difference...
shut down both engines.  A non-digital system, or one configured
differently, would have let the engines run at reduced power and let the
aircraft continue on for other options.  

Regards,
Gross Scruggs
Annapolis MD