Couldn't you just turn the engine off and put it into 2nd or something? That way the gearing will engine-brake, and since the engine's off it won't really damage it.

 

i heard the driver used to be a CHP officer. I would think he would be shart and throw it into neutral, turn hazards on and start weaving side to side on the freeway to slow down.

sad though RIP

 

Sorry to say but this is a Darwin Award...

 

No need to mess with the parking brake. The regular brakes will still work. If the engine is turned off, the pedal might be harder, but they'll still work.

Bizarre that the driver was a CHP officer but did not think of turning the engine off or shifting into neutral. I suspect that he did try to turn the engine off, but didn't know he had to hold the button down for three seconds - the car was a loaner.

Very sad and scary.

Ken

 

Not to be a dick, but I agree 100%.

 

who cares about the car?
human lives are way more important.
I'd slam that thing to park, reverse, neutral, whatever, it doesn't matter.

 

Strange thing is my 1998 Toyota Rav4 has a hook on the floor that holds the floormat in place so it can't move. What happened? Did they delete this feature to save a couple of $?

 

I think most cars have a hook for the driver mat.. makes sense really.

Though I think the problem here was the mat was oversized, i.e. too long

 

that is an awful story i was so shocked when i heard about this

 

Its horrible they died, but wow it would take some stupidity not to do anything in the 1 minute+ of time they had to do something. Say the situation happened differently (ie a couple seconds before an intersection), and they had less time to react, then I could see it, but it seems like they had ample of time to react and stop the vehicle.

 

I know but sometimes when dramatic events happen people dont tend to think about it. My friend and her boyfriend at the time was driving and there accelator broke in a 84 monte carlo ss and they slammed the breaks and it burnt them out and then they put it in reverse but it didnt do anything and they end up hitting a tree but luckily they were both alright even though they hit it at 120. The didnt think to shut the engine off they said it was so frantic

 

read this...

http://autocoverup.com/2009/

 

Runaway problems with the PRIUS also...

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news0...ccelerate.html

 

I am sorry for the family and all involved but when the car started to accelerate without warning hy didn't he quickly nail the brakes?
The modern braking system should stop the car from a runaway if applied quickly.
Also how fast were they going when this happened?

 

I am only happy that their combined stupidity did not harm others.

 

/\ That's rough.

 

its true though.

how hard is it to turn off a car that is doing something you dont like?

i've turned off my chrysler lebaron on the highway before. and then bam, turn it back on.

this is sad, and im sure there will be hell to pay. especially since its a rental. but quick thinking would have avoided this.

 

ok for sure more then half here have hit those speeds before and not knocking on toyota but they take a little to get up there there was more then enough time and you can always put it into neutral at any speed and the brakes work normally no need of any pedals to put into neutral i learned that since i was a little kid its all about who taught you how to drive and how much you really know about ur car and what it does

 

I don't understand...

Even if the motor is completely floored, the brakes EASILY overpower it. i guarantee you that, even if you put pretty much any car in 1st gear no less, and floor it, the brakes will easily be able to stop you from speeding up at the very least. And this was probly in like 4th gear at least. I don't understand...Even if you panic and can think enough to put it in neutral, you can still put your foot on the brake.