dumm amurikans

[Joseph Yakubik <75363.2524@compuserve.com>]

Allan Olesen wrote:

>Or count the number of uninteded Audi accelerations outside USA.<

Ummm, not to re-start this thing but.....

Yes, Audi's were guilty of uninteded (sic) acceleration.  The driver did
not want the car to accelerate, but it did.  Were Audi's guilty of
uncommanded acceleration - the car accelerated without being told to, --
no.

Is unintended acceleration a problem in cars?  Well, according to ADAC,
Germany's largest auto club, yes.  Are there any reasons why?  Yes.  In a
study of accidents in Europe, drivers (sorry Unka Bart) or "operators"
couldn't make the transition from manual shift to auto trannies.  The
"highly trained" european drivers were doing dumb things like getting out
of the car with it idling, in Drive; or not putting it in Park, when
parked.  These things caused the cars the accelerate when the person behind
the wheel, (or not, as the case may be) didn't want it to -- hence,
unintended acceleration.

Certain cars were immune from this phenomena, to whit: Audi's, VW's, and
some models of Porsche's, and Mercedes.  Common thread:  they all had shift
locks; designed around the post-unintended acceleration US DOT mandate. 

ADAC's recommendation:  ALL cars with auto trannies should have shift
locks.  They didn't go so far as to modify the law.  Currently driver's
licensing in Germany takes a somewhat arrogant approach to auto trannies. 
If you learn, and test, on an auto; then you are qualified for auto
trannies, ONLY.  But, if you learn on a stick; well, then you can easily
handle an automatic.

Now, as far as the US attempting to mandate common sense, that's a
different topic.  Personally I find prohibiting Ueberaschungs Eier from US
stores because kids might choke on the toys, ludicrous.  Kids might choke
on anything, including a recent case where a small girl choked (no, not
gagged) on broccoli.  Why, there oughtta be a law.....

Joe Yakubik
going on self-imposed q-list probation, until I can kill my format problem.

BTW:  this is not slamming any group of people, anywhere.  Joe Yakubik's
rule to live by:  People are stupid.  No exceptions, not even me.  I think
the Danes are great, really.  I'm still looking for a "Vikings World Tour,
1000 AD" T-shirt.