Dafuq? Woman's accelerator gets stuck

[silverpig]

Remember that show Rescue 911 with Captain Kirk? I remember an episode way back where the same thing happened. A woman was driving her car down the highway and the accelerator got stuck. She dialled 911 and the cops did their best to clear the highway for her.

She tried shifting to N (and everything else), tried lifting up on the accelerator, tried the brake, tried the emergency brake, tried turning the key off... nothing would work.

She had a single cop car escort plowing the way ahead with its siren and lights on as they tried to run her out of gas.

I think it ended when they were about to hit some traffic. They went onto the shoulder, the cop had to slow down, and she rear-ended him at high speed (although a fairly low speed differential). The cop's brake's helped slow her down, then she hit the retaining wall, but everything ended up working out okay.

 

[mvbighead]

Christ people she was on the phone with 911 and they helped her try different things. If she can talk and drive like that at the same time, with 1 hand, I'm pretty sure she wasn't panicing and not know what a brake vs. accelerator was. It's not operator error.

I do want to know why putting it in neutral didn't work though.

BTW, don't people have speakerphone on their cell? Why do people still talk with the phone on their ears while in the car???

I'd have to agree with this. Hard to imagine she lived till this age and suddenly forgot what a brake or neutral was, let alone the operator on the other end of the call, and probably the two or three guys standing behind the operator giving other suggestions (I would imagine).

 

[LTC8K6]

Many modern cars have no steering wheel lock anymore. My 2008 Jeep does not have a steering wheel lock. Generally, cars with push button start do not have a steering wheel lock, like this Kia.

Also, there is no transmission linkage any more on modern cars. The gear selection is electronic. Moving the shift lever doesn't actually do anything except tell the computer what you want it to do.

It's entirely possible on a 2011 vehicle for the throttle and shifter to quit responding to your requests.

 

[jagec]

I'd have to agree with this. Hard to imagine she lived till this age and suddenly forgot what a brake or neutral was, let alone the operator on the other end of the call, and probably the two or three guys standing behind the operator giving other suggestions (I would imagine).

But it's even harder to believe that she experienced a simultaneous failure of the ignition switch, the braking system, the accelerator, AND the transmission linkage.

 

[moonbogg]

Cop told bitch to lift accelerator and press brake. Bitch followed directions. Car stopped.

 

[rh71]

Cop told bitch to lift accelerator and press brake. Bitch followed directions. Car stopped.

She followed directions only after 35 minutes?

But it's even harder to believe that she experienced a simultaneous failure of the ignition switch, the braking system, the accelerator, AND the transmission linkage.

Someone linked a video here months back in a similar thread showing that the brake doesn't always override the accelerator. I want to find it again.

 

[alkemyst]

Many modern cars have no steering wheel lock anymore. My 2008 Jeep does not have a steering wheel lock. Generally, cars with push button start do not have a steering wheel lock, like this Kia.

Also, there is no transmission linkage any more on modern cars. The gear selection is electronic. Moving the shift lever doesn't actually do anything except tell the computer what you want it to do.

It's entirely possible on a 2011 vehicle for the throttle and shifter to quit responding to your requests.

The problem is, unless you are sure your car doesn't have a steering wheel lock attempting to test this is a panic is a bad thing.

While your latter statement is correct on many automatics, manual transmissions still usually have linkages.

 

[JoeyP]

Very nervous when cars don't have keys. With a key you can click it back one notch to kill the engine, and even bring it forward one notch to ensure the steering doesn't lock. Lay on the brake pedal with both feet.

You can even downshift, lay on the brakes, steer into a guide rail, or get a cop in front of you to help you brake.

 

[LTC8K6]

The problem is, unless you are sure your car doesn't have a steering wheel lock attempting to test this is a panic is a bad thing.

While your latter statement is correct on many automatics, manual transmissions still usually have linkages.

I hope a manual trans has a linkage, and I hope the driver knows what the clutch does.

 

[LTC8K6]

Very nervous when cars don't have keys. With a key you can click it back one notch to kill the engine, and even bring it forward one notch to ensure the steering doesn't lock. Lay on the brake pedal with both feet.

You can even downshift, lay on the brakes, steer into a guide rail, or get a cop in front of you to help you brake.

Turns out with a Chrysler product, you can pull the switch out, insert the fob in the opening, and turn it like a key if the proximity function quits.

 

[LTC8K6]

In cars with the brake/shifter interlock, the key usually will not go all the way back to "lock" unless the shifter is in Park. So there's less danger of accidentally locking the wheel.

Step on the brake pedal very firmly, shift to N, and turn the key back.

 

[TheNinja]

Could she not shift into 1st gear at least?

 

[CZroe]

Christ people she was on the phone with 911 and they helped her try different things. If she can talk and drive like that at the same time, with 1 hand, I'm pretty sure she wasn't panicing and not know what a brake vs. accelerator was. It's not operator error.

I do want to know why putting it in neutral didn't work though.

BTW, don't people have speakerphone on their cell? Why do people still talk with the phone on their ears while in the car???

I'd love to know what kind of integrated speakerphone works well with the road noise at 120MPH.

 

[alkemyst]

I'd love to know what kind of integrated speakerphone works well with the road noise at 120MPH.

I have been on the phone at 110mph while in a light rain and on the phone. Wasn't really an issue.

 

[dainthomas]

Step on the brake pedal very firmly, shift to N, and turn the key back.

This

 

[CZroe]

I have been on the phone at 110mph while in a light rain and on the phone. Wasn't really an issue.

It wasn't the handset's speakerphone, was it? Vehicular systems are different and can't be assumed to be present. I should know because I use a Parrot SK4000 on a motorcycle.

 

[Raizinman]

Turning off the car is bad. You lose power stearing.

Turning off the car is the preferred method. As for losing power steering; if you turn off the car going 120 mph on a straight part of highway, losing your power steering or power brakes doesn't really come into play.

My belief is that she was trying to get out of a speeding ticket or had too many speeding tickets already. Her car is not known for sticking accelerators. Instead of going to jail, she is acclaimed a hero. Not only that, she was using her cell phone talking to the 911 dispatch the whole time. If you have ever driven 120 mph, it's almost impossible to do while talking on the phone.

 

[rh71]

I'd love to know what kind of integrated speakerphone works well with the road noise at 120MPH.

do you just like to argue? Anyone who has their cellphone up to their ear can simply click the speakerphone on and lay it on their lap - it doesn't have to be integrated. I do it everytime despite having bluetooth. That's what I'm saying rather than hold the phone with 1 hand and drive physically and/or visually impaired for the everyday person - it was a general statement. Regardless, 120mph road noise does not overtake a speakerphone at max volume, much less an integrated system that has multiple speakers and a volume knob. Oh and you can ask the other person to yell into the phone if you ever find yourself going 120mph and can't hear anything.

My belief is that she was trying to get out of a speeding ticket or had too many speeding tickets already. Her car is not known for sticking accelerators. Instead of going to jail, she is acclaimed a hero. Not only that, she was using her cell phone talking to the 911 dispatch the whole time. If you have ever driven 120 mph, it's almost impossible to do while talking on the phone.

She must really be in trouble with the law prior if she's willing to drive on the grassy median twice at over 100mph. That's just asking for a disaster.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

i have no problem declaring bullshit on this lady

 

[CZroe]

do you just like to argue? Where did I say integrated? Anyone who has their cellphone up to their ear can simply click the speakerphone on and lay it on their lap. That's what I'm saying rather than hold the phone with 1 hand and drive physically and/or visually impaired. Regardless, 120mph road noise does not overtake a speakerphone at max volume.

That *IS* integrated and it is EXACTLY what I said would not work with the ambient noise at 120MPH. It's not a sound-proof luxury vehicle. Do you just like to spew crap from your mouth?! It's like you've never used a speakerphone in your life.

"WHAT?!"

Edit: My friends build these Sorentos for a living at Kia's West Point, GA factory and the one I contacted agrees that even my extra-loud Xperia PLAY speakerphone would be unusable at 120MPH. I'd say that they have a pretty good idea what it would sound like in there. How's that for "arguing?"

 

[Freejack2]

I'm so glad I drive a manual. Gas pedal gets stuck, put the clutch in, pop it into neutral, let it bounce off the rev limiter while I bring the car to safe stop.

 

[CZroe]

I'm so glad I drive a manual. Gas pedal gets stuck, put the clutch in, pop it into neutral, let it bounce off the rev limiter while I bring the car to safe stop.

That's what I did when the throttle cable stuck open in my '81 Toyota Celica. Engine sounded like it was going to blow up before I got it off a couple seconds later.

 

[Gunbuster]

Have you ever tried to tell an idiot how to do something on their computer over the phone? That time 6000.

Verdict: User error

 

[mafia]

For those of you saying to turn the key, this is a keyless vehicle. When you press the START/STOP button while moving, the vehicle will not turn off. You will need to hold it or press it multiple times, depending on the vehicle. Additionally, she could have thrown her keyless receiver out the window and the car would have shut down too.

EDIT: A shifter and brakes to fail both at the sametime is a bit unusual. I'm curious to know what was said during the 911 call.

 

[Freejack2]

That's what I did when the throttle cable stuck open in my '81 Toyota Celica. Engine sounded like it was going to blow up before I got it off a couple seconds later.

Mines an '09 Accord so I'm pretty sure it has a rev limiter, but I bet my old 89 civic didn't, then again that civic didn't even have power steering.