How do you stop a car with a jammed accelerator?

[Gatt]

I remember when i was on my way to last years EduGeek conf - my car died just as i got off the roundabout just off the m-way - mid turn!! i had a hell of a job turning the wheel - not only cos of loss of Power Steering - but the bloody steering lock came on too!!

[SteveBentley]

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.

 

Well you're entitled to your opinion, but I think it's a load of rubbish

 

Most people who take the test in an automatic (such as myself) having struggled to get to grips with manual transmission will have been taught in an automatic and will have been taught how and when to use the car's gears and other factors which are unique to driving an automatic such as controlling creep etc. People who passed in an automatic are probably much safer driving one than somebody who passed in a manual and decided they wanted to get an automatic car.

 

Personally I changed from learning in a manual because I was having difficulty at junctions and getting in a flap with changing gear, holding the car at bite, observing traffic waiting for a gap, stalling, starting again etc. Taking most of that out of the mix means that I can concentrate more fully on observing traffic and making safe decisions (yes I know that these things become second nature for many drivers, but it wasn't clicking for me). It could be that a change to a different instructor in a manual and I would have picked it up, but I was getting so frustrated I changed to an automatic.

 

I have no regrets about only being able to drive an automatic, and the state of the snarled up, stop-start roads we drive in these days, I find it difficult to understand why people would actively want a manual for day to day use, other than familiarity.

[CHR1S]

People who passed in an automatic are probably much safer driving one than somebody who passed in a manual and decided they wanted to get an automatic car.

 

I passed in a manual and now drive my auto fine. Exception to the rule? or was that just your opinion too? hehe ;)

[CAM]

I have a friend with an old Citroen AX where the engine block is held in place with duct tape. This causes the engine to move a bit and trap the accelerator cable until he brakes (sending it forwards and releasing the cable). His description of the "fault" if he was careful with how much the pedal is pressed was free cruise control.

 

(I don't recommend trying this though!)

[Disaster]

I just dig my heels into the ground. But then again, I am Fred Flinstone.

[SteveBentley]

I passed in a manual and now drive my auto fine. Exception to the rule? or was that just your opinion too? hehe ;)

 

hehe I probably should clarify that to say people who passed in a manual and changed to an auto without fully appreciating the changes to their driving style which are required.

[CHR1S]

hehe I probably should clarify that to say people who passed in a manual and changed to an auto without fully appreciating the changes to their driving style which are required.

 

I must say for quite a while I went to change gear like a manual

[mac_shinobi]

I just dig my heels into the ground. But then again, I am Fred Flinstone.

 

If you are going 70mph or more if you are speeding ( does that equate to 2 broken legs ) ??

[Disaster]

If you are going 70mph or more if you are speeding ( does that equate to 2 broken legs ) ??

 

Ner, Can only go as fast as my/my passangers feet will take us, dont be fooled by how fast the scenery goes by, top speed is about 8.

[mossj]

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

 

 

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.

 

It's actually worrying but I too had a (real) mini and had the same problems... The hook technique worked like a charm every time though....

[Oops_my_bad]

So because of these few numpties who have no idea what to do in the event of throttle pedal failure, how long until the European nanny state imposes some sort of ugly kill switch on the dashboards of our nice cars?

 

Yes I know motorcycles have had these buttons since forever, but if it wasn't for their disgraceful riding behaviour they probably wouldn't need them.