Jul 27
adminVehicle Check Accelerator, Accidents, Car Wash, Cars, Floor Mat, Floor Mats, Hooks, Misaligned, Prevention, Runaway, Safety Mat, Scary Moments, Stopping, Vehicle
There have been many stories in the news lately about runaway cars. These incidents, which have caused several accidents and many scary moments, have led to the recall of thousands of vehicles. Although these incidents are rare, and will hopefully be significantly reduced by the recalls, the stories still make us think what would I do in that situation?
The best and safest thing you can do is to try to prevent this situation from happening to you. The main cause of runaway vehicles is a floor mat that becomes misaligned and holds down the accelerator. Since floor mats are frequently moved, whether they are actually being taken out of the car to be cleaned, or simply shifting when the driver gets in and out of the car, they can easily become detached from their hooks or reattached improperly. It is important to frequently check the mats to make sure they have not moved too far up towards the pedals, where they can interfere with the accelerator. You should also make sure to reattach the mats properly whenever they are taken out. This includes rechecking their position after a car wash or service visit.
Another way to prevent this issue is to make sure you are using the correct floor mats for your vehicle, since using mats that are too large are likely to obstruct the pedals. Mats should also never be stacked on top of each other, such as placing a winter mat on top of the carpeted one. They should always be connected to the hooks to prevent movement. Finally, if you ever doubt the safety of a mat or its position, just take it out.
While prevention is important, it is even more imperative to know what to do in the case that you do find yourself in this situation. First, try to dislodge the floor mat from the pedal. You can do this by reaching down and pulling the mat back. If you are unable to dislodge the mat with your hand, place your shoe behind the accelerator and pull the pedal up. This method will be helpful for both a pedal that is stuck due to the mat or a defective pedal return spring. After using either of these methods, pull over and inspect the vehicle before continuing.
While being able to dislodge the pedal is the preferred way to stop your vehicle, it is not always possible. If this is the case, shift the transmission into neutral and brake to a stop. If you cannot put the car in neutral, shut off the engine or switch to ACC. Be warned that this will make the car difficult to steer and brake, but it will stop your vehicle. If your vehicle has a key ignition, turn the key to ACC but leave the key in. Removing it will cause the steering wheel to lock. If your vehicle has a start/stop button, each automaker has a different system for turning the engine off while the car is in drive. Check the owners manual next time you are in your car to see what that method is. If none of the previous methods work, step on the brake pedal with both feet very firmly, but do not pump the brakes.
While the chances of having a runaway vehicle are very rare, it is still a good idea to test these techniques out to see which ones work best for you. Testing will also help make the actions more instinctual in case you do ever find yourself in this situation.
Apr 22
adminArticles Accelerator, Acura Mdx, Air Bags, Apparent Failure, Driver Error, Electrical Problems, Emergency Services, Ford Focus, Headlights, Importers, Insurance Premium, Insurance Providers, Last Ten Years, Mdx, Passenger Safety, Paying Attention, Plague, Protectionism, Safety Record, Sudden Acceleration
There have been hundreds of newpapers headlines over the apparent failure of Toyota to deal with what is called sudden acceleration syndrome. This is where you are just sitting in your vehicle with the engine running or driving it on the road and, without warning, it suddenly accelerates. If you believe the stories, we have had people unable to stop on the highways even with helpful emergency services telling the drivers to switch off the engine.
It seems some drivers are really determined to experience uncontrolled acceleration, and their experiences may make it more likely driver error is one of the main causes of the syndrome. Indeed, if you listen to the manufacturers, they all sing the same tune. With the accelerator and brake being next to each other, it’s easy for the driver to make a mistake and press the wrong pedal. In reality, the syndrome has affected almost every make of vehicle on the road over the last ten years. It was because of the scale of the problem that manufacturers introduced the shift interlock system which makes it impossible to engage drive unless you have your foot on the brake.
Let’s put Toyota’s problems in context. Every major manufacturer has had recalls with problems affecting driver and passenger safety. The air bags in the Acura MDX were defective, and a plague of electrical problems affected the headlights in the Ford Focus. One of the reasons why Toyota has attracted more attention than the others this year is a type of protectionism. You attack the safety record of foreign importers to boost the sales of locally produced vehicles. Taking the statistics overall, Toyota actually has a better safety record than most other manufacturers, i.e. fewer people are injured per mile driven. With virtually every make and model recalled, the manufacturers show they are paying attention. Your safety is important to them. But what happens to your insurance premium if your vehicle is recalled?
Insurance providers find any possible excuse to raise their premiums but it’s very unusual for rates to rise following a recall. That would be penalizing you for the manufacturer’s design defects, and most states have regulations in place to prevent increases solely based on a recall. If you think you have been victimized in this way, report the facts to your local Department of Insurance. Should you prefer to change insurers, make sure you follow the terms and conditions for cancelling the policy. Many companies impose penalties for early cancellation.
One word of warning – do not ignore a recall notice. Auto insurance companies like to find reasons to avoid paying out on claims. If you do not have your vehicle repaired and the defect causes an accident, that will be your fault and your claim will be reduced or refused. Even if there is no accident, the insurer can impose a surcharge or refuse to renew the insurance. It would be good if auto insurance companies always showed themselves in the best possible light. Unfortunately, the drive to make the maximum profit often makes them seem vicious and cold-hearted. There is no compassion in business. So always approach insurance like every other service. Shop around to find the best make and model of vehicle – one that does well in crash tests and is not popular with thieves. Then get auto insurance quotes from as many companies as possible and find the best deal. Rest assured. Recalls are the least of your problems and do not affect the premium rate over the short term.
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