How do you stop a car with a jammed accelerator?

[CHR1S]

BBC News - How do you stop a car with a jammed accelerator?

 

Ignore the article and go read the comments, there are some that deserve a Darwin award and some that make you think people panic over nothing waaaayyyy to much!!

[solitaire89]

If it's a choice between a zebra crossing full of people, an oncoming car or a wall, pick the wall.

 

Suppose it depends who's on the crossing, or who's in the other car...

[3s-gtech]

Clutch and brake. If it's auto, brake brake brake! I know on some cars the ECU overrides the throttle position and cuts power when the brake is applied too (my Audi did). Switching off the ignition is a good way of engaging the steering lock and dying rapidly. As you say, some very daft comments on there, but it is HYS.

[localzuk]

Lol, I don't even drive and I know what to do. The wheels are only powered because it is in gear - getting it out of gear means no power to the wheels. It is simple mechanics!!

 

But then, we all know how people's minds work - the world is coming to an end when their PC isn't working, because they don't check it is plugged in...

[K.C.Leblanc]

Clutch and brake. If it's auto, brake brake brake!

 

And put it in Neutral.

 

It amazes me the amount of bad info that these stories produce.

 

I remember about year back watchdog bleeting about handbrakes on Vectras. At no point did they suggest leaving the car in gear (which is a fundamental basic that everyone should understand).

 

EDIT: But then I'm quite oppinionated, I for instance think the automatic test should only be offered to people who can't drive a manual car for medical reason. Learning to drive a manual gives you a much better unstanding of power and how cars actualy work.

 

Most people if not offered the choice of the auto test would go on to learn to drive a manual. The few who can't manage it should probably not be driving anyway.

Edited February 5, 2010 by K.C.Leblanc

[CHR1S]

If it's a choice between a zebra crossing full of people, an oncoming car or a wall, pick the wall.

 

Ye because the non defformable object will be the best option!

[plexer]

I liked the comment from the guy in the mini, saying how he had 6 people in it.

 

Ben

[localzuk]

Ye because the non defformable object will be the best option!

 

In terms of number of people likely to be killed, yes it is...

[fafster]

Looking at some of those comments makes you realise just how stupid some people are.

 

Example:

 

I was gently accelerating away from a roundabout when my accelerator became stuck and the car continued to gain speed despite no pressure on the pedal. The car very quickly accelerated to speeds above 70 mph which was an extremely frightening experience for myself, I managed to use the clutch and take the car out of gear but unfortunately lost control at this point and crashed into the central reservation after the car spinning across the dual carriageway.

 

70mph. I don't think some people realise how long it takes to get to 70. My car isn't slow, but it still takes ten seconds to get to sixty. His Yaris probably wasn't doing 70 until after a good twenty seconds. If you can't figure out how to reduce power to the wheels in that timeframe then you shouldn't be on the road.

[fafster]

I liked the comment from the guy in the mini, saying how he had 6 people in it.

 

Ben

 

I don't know if that's actually possible...

[CHR1S]

Looking at some of those comments makes you realise just how stupid some people are.

 

Example:

 

I was gently accelerating away from a roundabout when my accelerator became stuck and the car continued to gain speed despite no pressure on the pedal. The car very quickly accelerated to speeds above 70 mph which was an extremely frightening experience for myself, I managed to use the clutch and take the car out of gear but unfortunately lost control at this point and crashed into the central reservation after the car spinning across the dual carriageway.

 

70mph. I don't think some people realise how long it takes to get to 70. My car isn't slow, but it still takes ten seconds to get to sixty. His Yaris probably wasn't doing 70 until after a good twenty seconds. If you can't figure out how to reduce power to the wheels in that timeframe then you shouldn't be on the road.

 

 

Assuming its an auto, because if it was a manual they would have to change gear, and that would make them even more of an idiot!!

[localzuk]

I don't know if that's actually possible...

 

Pah, 6? That's nothing! Malaysian Students Set Record For Most People in a MINI Cooper - egmCarTech

[Halfmad]

Alternatively just don't have car mats! I don't have them in my Aygo

[mac_shinobi]

Lol, I don't even drive and I know what to do. The wheels are only powered because it is in gear - getting it out of gear means no power to the wheels. It is simple mechanics!!

 

But then, we all know how people's minds work - the world is coming to an end when their PC isn't working, because they don't check it is plugged in...

 

What about if you just hold the clutch all the way down to the floor and brake and if need be put it in neutral then you can apply the hand brake after the car has stopped and is at a stand still and then sort out why the accelerator is to the floor ( obviously you would have to try and pull over somewhere safe not in the middle of a motor way or road or w/e ) but as per the comments use the clutch to give you a bit of motion so you can pull over.

Edited February 5, 2010 by mac_shinobi

[glensc]

Remove foot from accelerator, it's not needed anymore.

Use knee to control steering wheel, this frees hands up.

Use hands to search through pockets for Mobile phone.

Call IT Helpdesk as car has a computer in it so it's their problem.

[capncrunch]

Well this happened more than a couple of times to me in my mini (a real mini) due to issues with the throttle cable sticking and then a couple more times because the butterfly in my weber carburettor got stuck open. And I don't agree with that BBC article where it sais

"In the case of the accelerator sticking, the immediate response for a lot of people would be to unjam the accelerator when the proper reaction is in fact to try to stop the car," says Mr Howard.

 

That is the very first thing you SHOULD do. Providing there is time and it is safe to do so, try hooking the pedal back up with your feet or give the pedal a quick jab or "blip" to help free it. Obviously if you are 10m away from a T Junction then just press the clutch and jump on the brakes.

 

As for turning the engine off, it is perfectly safe aslong as you know what you are doing, most cars have more than one key position. If you turn the key all the way off then yes you will apply the steering lock, but normally one turn back is the "accessory position" and this will not enable the steering lock but turn off the ignition.

[maniac]

Switching off the ignition is a good way of engaging the steering lock and dying rapidly. As you say, some very daft comments on there, but it is HYS.

 

The steering lock should not engage until the key is removed from the ignition lock, just turning it off should not engage the steering lock.

 

Still probably not the best thing to do, but if you were absolutely desperate you should be able to get away with it.

[CHR1S]

I think its also important to remember that depending on where you turn the ignition to it could also turn off the power steering, abs, servo amongst other things making your attempt to stop a little harder

[K.C.Leblanc]

As for turning the engine off, it is perfectly safe aslong as you know what you are doing, most cars have more than one key position. If you turn the key all the way off then yes you will apply the steering lock, but normally one turn back is the "accessory position" and this will not enable the steering lock but turn off the ignition.

 

Just bare in mind if you have power steering and servo asisted brakes these will also cut out. Not a big issue in a small car but something big it can be. You're not going to pull up a SIlver Shadow without brake servos.

 

It all depends on the car, I had a Polo that would often stall when cold between durring gear changes, I would often just coast, drop a gear bring the clutch back up and it would bump start the engine. Oddly we'd had this car for years, the garage never managed to sort it, three months after inheriting the blasted thing from my mum I tried super unleaded which solved the issue and improved economy enough to recoup the cost.

[srochford]

OK; the solution is obvious and I'm amazed that the Daily Express hasn't published this yet.

 

It's all the government's fault (obviously; everything is the fault of this incompetent, corrupt, insert adjective of choice, government) so they should fix it. Instead of wasting money on parliamentary expenses we should get escape lanes built on every road.

 

This serves multiple purposes; it makes our roads safer (particularly from paedophiles - they're bound to be there somewhere) and it gives jobs to all the unemployed.

 

There's quite a nice escape lane here Rural Roads - Exmoor Coast - Lynton and Lynmouth but that might be bigger than we need everywhere. I'm sure we could find British engineers to do a better job!

[sidewinder]

Surely the correct answer is to jump out of the moving car like an action film and let the car explode into a fireball going over a cliff/hitting a mountain?

[DAZZD88]

Switching off the ignition is a good way of engaging the steering lock and dying rapidly. As you say, some very daft comments on there, but it is HYS.

 

Only if you remove the key from the ingition should it engage the steering lock, if you leave the key in you should be free to steer as normal. Although switching the ignition off while in gear will put considerable strain on the drive-train and probably damage the drive-shaft.

[fafster]

Thinking back, I once had the opposite problem in my old Clio.

 

Was driving home after going to the cinema, and my accelerator cable snapped. I was going up an incline at the time, so my foot went flat to the floor and I lost power. Luckily I had sense to pull to the curb and put my hazards on.

 

Bloody French rubbish.

[capncrunch]

Just bare in mind if you have power steering and servo asisted brakes these will also cut out. Not a big issue in a small car but something big it can be. You're not going to pull up a SIlver Shadow without brake servos.

 

power steering? servo assited brakes? what are these things that you speak of?

[truslack]

I never understood why cars don't have an ignition kill switch like motorbikes?