Toyota's accelerator recall...and our lives<u>
Recent articles are beginning to blame Toyota's accelerator problems and mass recalls, on the confusing increase in technology of cars in general...drivers just cannot shut them off!
...the problem may be deeper than just...mat entrapment of accelerator pedals. [Drivers are] unable to shift the car into neutral or switch off the engine, some of the typical things a driver would do during unintended acceleration.
To switch off the...Lexus' engine while driving [you] would have had to
press and hold the "Stop/Start" button for three seconds, an action
that is not obvious and could be difficult to accomplish while swerving
through traffic at high speeds. And the Lexus features a shifter that
follows a slightly twisting path rather than sliding directly fore and
aft.The Lexus shifter is far from the most confusing on the market. That title is up
for grabs among Toyota's hybrid models and the latest models from
Mercedes-Benz and BMW....
While biking south on Halsted in the bike lane, I had a northbound car, apparently out of control, swerve all the way across the street directly at me at a high rate of speed. At the last moment, I made a sharp left turn in front of the oncoming car that continuted past me on the right. Fortunately no other cars were nearby, and the driver apparently got the car under control in the next block.
But as the above article points out, with the increase in complexity of car controls, we can look forward to more out-of-control cars. My maneuver was performed without thinking; it could have been suicide. I'd like to have a better plan. Does anyone have any suggestions how to avoid out-of-control cars when on a bike?
...the problem may be deeper than just...mat entrapment of accelerator pedals. [Drivers are] unable to shift the car into neutral or switch off the engine, some of the typical things a driver would do during unintended acceleration.
To switch off the...Lexus' engine while driving [you] would have had to
press and hold the "Stop/Start" button for three seconds, an action
that is not obvious and could be difficult to accomplish while swerving
through traffic at high speeds. And the Lexus features a shifter that
follows a slightly twisting path rather than sliding directly fore and
aft.The Lexus shifter is far from the most confusing on the market. That title is up
for grabs among Toyota's hybrid models and the latest models from
Mercedes-Benz and BMW....
While biking south on Halsted in the bike lane, I had a northbound car, apparently out of control, swerve all the way across the street directly at me at a high rate of speed. At the last moment, I made a sharp left turn in front of the oncoming car that continuted past me on the right. Fortunately no other cars were nearby, and the driver apparently got the car under control in the next block.
But as the above article points out, with the increase in complexity of car controls, we can look forward to more out-of-control cars. My maneuver was performed without thinking; it could have been suicide. I'd like to have a better plan. Does anyone have any suggestions how to avoid out-of-control cars when on a bike?
Views: 144
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Alan Matejka on
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I have been to california several times in the 67 chevy. It also survived my teenage driving. I never said they were more reliable. I just said that I like them more. Today cars still keep tow trucks busy. My 87 volvo has about 320,000 miles the engine has never been apart.
Jessica said:If you tell me that a 1960 car is more reliable than a 2009, I'll give you the 1960, I'll take the 2009, and we'll see who gets to California first. =) Cars are more reliable now-a-days. Perhaps it is the warning lights and annoying beepers that tell people when to do stuff, but regardless. They are more reliable.
Now, when you want to modify stuff, the computers and electronics are SUPER annoying.
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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on
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If I could get a car that had 2009 metallurgy and manufacturing tolerances but with 1960's engine and transmission controls it would be the most reliable vehicle ever made!
Today there are less failures of many parts due to better manufacturing and materials but we have lost some reliability to weight savings and computer controls.
Alan Matejka said:I have been to california several times in the 67 chevy. It also survived my teenage driving. I never said they were more reliable. I just said that I like them more. Today cars still keep tow trucks busy. My 87 volvo has about 320,000 miles the engine has never been apart.
Jessica said:If you tell me that a 1960 car is more reliable than a 2009, I'll give you the 1960, I'll take the 2009, and we'll see who gets to California first. =) Cars are more reliable now-a-days. Perhaps it is the warning lights and annoying beepers that tell people when to do stuff, but regardless. They are more reliable.
Now, when you want to modify stuff, the computers and electronics are SUPER annoying.
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Permalink Reply by Jessica on
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Can I point out that if you've put your car in drive, but have no idea how to put it in neutral, you ought to have your license taken away? Cause ya know, you had to like, PASS NEUTRAL and stuff.
This is why I believe everyone in the world should learn how to drive stick. It forces you to understand the car a little better.
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I'll make sure to proof read more carefully so I can live up to your stringent standards. Why is it people always fall back to correcting grammar when they don't really have a good comeback?
I am assuming that with your mixed quote of me you are trying to imply that I don't know what I am talking about? Once again, buy a clue. Mechanical linkage, vacuum based fuel metering, and governor controlled transmissions are more reliable then anything computer controlled and the alloys used in engines and other parts. Not to mention the coatings, heat treating and manufacturing advances that allowed for stronger parts. If you want to tell me this is untrue why is it cars rust slower and engines and transmissions last longer?
Everyone I spoke to on the ride last night did appreciate my responses...
1) There is not an increasing level of danger; show me the data that indicates there is a higher rate, per vehicle on the road, of incidents now than there was 10 years ago. Show me hard data that there is an upward trend in out of control cars. But this is a simple question, ride defensively; something you should already be doing. Short of wrapping yourself in bubble wrap and never leaving the sidewalk there is no universal solution to the dangers of biking beyond paying attention, thinking ahead and having a continually changing evasive plan; just like you should have when you are driving a car.
2) Have a brain and learn how to not panic in high pressure situations. No car I am in in will ever reach 120 in a minute because it will either be turned off and stopped or sitting in neutral with a blown engine before that can occur. As for the rest of the drivers out there, well you can't fix stupid so it's pretty much a lost cause.
Clark said:OK Dug...I'll admit I only spent one semester trying to understand the time-temp-transformation diagram of alloy steels. So I'll yield to your superior apparent knowledge...as rambling and semi-literate as it may be. This forum appreciates all responses...
The whole point of this thread was to
(1) discuss suggested bikers' responses to increasing threats from cars
(2) when we get behind the wheel, what are we doing to ensure that we don't become part of the problem, if our car should suddenly misbehave, or accelerate to 120mph in less than a minute.
Sorry I didn't pose these questions more clearly for you.
notoriousDUG said:...do us a favor and stop talking like you know something when you clearly don't!....If I could get a car that had 2009 metallurgy and manufacturing tolerances but with 1960's engine and transmission controls it would be the most reliable vehicle ever made!
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http://boingboing.net/2010/01/14/crash-test-1959-chev.html Many things are different now. Be carefull, and stay safe.
Alan Matejka said:I have been to california several times in the 67 chevy. It also survived my teenage driving. I never said they were more reliable. I just said that I like them more. Today cars still keep tow trucks busy. My 87 volvo has about 320,000 miles the engine has never been apart.
Jessica said:If you tell me that a 1960 car is more reliable than a 2009, I'll give you the 1960, I'll take the 2009, and we'll see who gets to California first. =) Cars are more reliable now-a-days. Perhaps it is the warning lights and annoying beepers that tell people when to do stuff, but regardless. They are more reliable.
Now, when you want to modify stuff, the computers and electronics are SUPER annoying.
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Permalink Reply by Jim "Niterider" on
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Sure Clark, I can give you details of the accidents that I have been in.
1) Hit in Zion in June 1993 by a driver in a Caddy Deville. It was around 1:00 a.m. heading back home to Kenosha. He passed by and cut me off. I was hit on the passenger side and bounced his hood. He stopped and got out to see if I was ok. Bike was not. Front wheel was out of wack, handle bar bent. Me, road rash, broken glasses, bruised ribs. Him and his wife brought me home and paid for ER visit. Offer to pay for my medical bills and bike repairs. He was shakken up along with his wife. I did not sue them since they paid for every thing. 2) Hit out in McHenry in July 1995 by Chevy pick up truck. I was riding home from Crystal Lake around 2:00 p.m. and stopped for ice cream in McHenry. As I headed east down the street he passed by me too close. The mirror slammed me hard on my left shoulder. He did not stop. I was thrown off my ride. I landed on my elbows and hands. Gloves were torn all to hell, elbows scrapped and bloody along with roadrash. Very painful ride home. I stopped several times since the pain was so intense. My bike did not get a banged up except for some bar tape that was ripped. Blood all over my bike also. Had to work in pain for 2 months. 3) Ran off the road by drunk driver in May 1996. I was riding on St. Mary's road at 4:30 a.m. fully lit up with strobes, front and back lights, reflective vest. The car was coming fom the north and had run the light at 176 along with others. The driver was weaving all over the road. I was just passing Old School forest preserve in Libertyville when I hit the ditch to avoid being hit. The car had to be going at least a 100 mph or more. The knob never crashed the car. I ended up with a flat tire on the front wheel and broken glass in my hand from a bottle that was in the ditch. Not a soul around at that time in the morning either to help. 4) Head on crash on DPR trail in October of 1998 with fellow biker. I was almost to Gurnee when I was slammed by a gal on a Trek 950. She was walking her dog and talking on her cell phone not paying attention to what was going on around her. I was headed south bound when she clipped me around 1:30 p.m. The dog was not injured at least. She dislocated her shoulder along with a sprained wrist. I sustained bumps and bruises along with a sore tailbone. I stayed with her until help arrived since she was crying and was more injured than me. Medics looked me over also. Bikes where broken. My front wheel was tacoed. Had to get a ride home back to WI. Her mom was more mad as she was supposed to walk the dog that day but did not. The dog was a friendly gray colored pitbull. No one was sued. Her mom thanked me for staying with her. 5) Slammed into a parked car in Hubbard woods in July of 1999. I was riding home from Chicago. It was 10:00 p.m. when I hit and ripped off a driver's side mirror off a black Mercedes 320i. Tried to move over since I had a car trying to pass me. I tore off the entire mirror along with the car alarm going off. The owner came out and wanted a piece of me. The car was not more than a week old. He was mad about it and I explained what had happen to him. Thank God his wife was not as druken as him. We exchanged numbers and car insurance paid for the damages. This was better than being run over by the car behind me.
6) Almost hit by a Toyota Camery in April of 2003 in Fort Sherdian. I was on Old Elm road heading east around 3:00 p.m. almost to Sheridan road when this woman stopped in front of me. She was stopping every little while and driving real slow since I was behind her for about a mile or so. She was yelling at her kids, talking on the phone, tossing out beer bottles and cans, and smoking I had observed. People were honking their horns and getting real mad. I was pissed also so I decided to pass on the right. She failed to signal and turned in front of me going into the gas station located here. I managed to get in front of her. I asked her if she needed help or if she was lost . She got out of her car yelling at me that I was tailgating her and trying to cause an accident. She than told me to f-off. Her kids than proceded to throw garbage at me and made threats to shove my bike up my ass. By than some one called the cops on the way she had been driving and carrying on. I had to chuckle since she started to yell at the cops and started to fight with them. They did not take any of her shit or her kids shit. They were all arrested. The cops asked me what had happen. She was also drunk as I had thought. I told them what was going on and they thanked me. You have to wonder how the hell some people think and what their thought process are. Sooner or later if you ride a bike around Chicago or the Burbs you will be in an accident. How to avoid such accidents: Stay home and watch T.V. :-) Just kidding, Clark. Keep on riding.
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Permalink Reply by mike w. on
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jeez, quite the collection of war stories! Glad you're still with us. i ride many of those roads regularly as well. St. Mary's has become a war zone in recent years... Scary at any hour nowadays. Thanks for helping bust the drunk!
Of all the parts of a car that cause accidents, it's most often the nut behind the wheel.
It's not out-of-control cars i fear so much as the out-of-control drivers.
>>.... You have to wonder how the hell some people think and what their thought process are. Sooner or later if you ride a bike around Chicago or the Burbs you will be in an accident. How to avoid such accidents: Stay home and watch T.V. :-) Just kidding, Clark. Keep on riding.
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Permalink Reply by GabeW (not the other Gabe) on
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The Lucas Vacuum Cleaner.....
...only think lucas made that DIDN'T suck!
There was an interesting editorial in the current issue of Grass Roots Motorsports magazine talking about driver's ed. Not what we've all taken, but about a father (who writes about and drives race cars) who wanted to make sure his son was going to be safe on the road. So he had him drive....a lot. The son drove them on errands, highway road trips, rush hour commutes, day, night, and all types of weather. Anyone can drive in an empty parking lot or deserted backroad - the challenge come during rush hour in the dark/rain/fog/whatever. They live in FL, but drove to CO to take a snow driving course. There's no snow in FL, but the physics of car control are the same on snow, wet, or dry pavement, but the speeds are slower. He also raced autocrosses, and track lapping days. Moral of the story was that after son got his license and was driving dad in the BMW with the new track suspension, they dipped a wheel off the road letting another oncoming car pass. The car started to spin, and before dad could say "oh shit" the son had it set right and continued on like nothing happened. Not even sweaty palms.
There are many "performance" driving schools in the area - it's a shame they're not taken advantage of by every-day drivers. They're not just for learning the racing line, it's about car control and LIMITS. Most people exceed the limits of their car without realizing it simply due to lack of practice and experience.
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....of course I should add that I think they're teaching you to "ride out" the skid in drivers ed class now. When I learned to drive the rule was to turn into the skid to regain control. Now they seem to have lost hope in people learning how to handle a car and tell you to slam the brakes and brace for impact. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
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