[urq] Toyota should be talking to Audi....NAC

[Steve Eiche]

Even if a car can be stopped if the brakes are fully applied, of which 
there is no doubt, there are a few problems with a full panic stop.  
First, you need to fully recognize the problem when it happens.  Imagine 
that you are going down the highway, you hit the brakes to disengage the 
cruise, and it doesn't, in fact it fights you.   This brings us to the 
second issue, in that once you recognize what the hell has happened and 
need to be in a position where you can safely execute a full ABS panic 
stop.   In the example I've given, say you are in light traffic on the 
highway, with people right behind you.  A full panic stop will likely 
cause an accident, even if you do recognize that is how you could 
stop.   (This scenario happened to my BIL - not in a Toyota and due to a 
cruise control problem.  He did smoke the brakes (they faded fast) 
before he got it stopped.)  Now if traffic is at a dead stop in front of 
you, your instinct probably would be to hit the brakes with everything 
you have, but if it is clear sailing, I really doubt you would.  Would 
you pull to the shoulder, then panic stop?   Hmmm, doubt that too.

I think the correct method to teach non "car people" is to put the car 
in neutral, let it bounce off the rev limiter  (assuming the fault 
continues when the car is in neutral), steer to a safe place and come to 
a controlled stop.   That is what I showed my wife to do.   Considering 
the old cars that I have driven with various sticking throttle plates or 
linkage problems, I've had a few stuck WOT throttle issues.  My 
resolution was never a full panic stop.  Usually cycling the ignition, 
stomping on the throttle a few times or just pushing in the clutch and 
letting it rev until I pulled over and turned it off (corroded throttle 
body linkage on a Scirocco). 

Here is my suggestion.   Randomly while driving in different situations, 
imagine that you throttle pedal has no affect and/or goes full 
throttle.  I think you will find that the solution will vary quite 
wildly depending on the situation.  Factor in cell phones, a Big Gulp, 
16 year old drivers, etc. and you see this isn't a simple issue, nor one 
that just dismissing people as "stupid drivers" who have the problem.  
You only hear about the people who pray the rosary and call next of kin 
instead of doing the right thing, not about those who handle it and say 
nothing or just dump the POS.

Steve