Another Case Of Sudden Acceleration!
This is certainly below average:
A slip of the foot sent a car into Brays Bayou in southwest Houston overnight.
Police say the driver was slowing to turn into an apartment complex on Club Creek near Beechnut when she hit the gas instead of the brake. The car swerved to the right, flew off an embankment, and into the water.
The driver and her three adult passengers all got out OK. A wrecker was called in to tow the partially submerged car away.
Now, if the driver of the car had been a regular reader of this weblog, she would have known to claim her car suddenly shot into the bayou as if possessed because of Sudden Acceleration Syndrome.
Sure, we would have ridiculed her -- because most so-called "Sudden Acceleration Syndrome" incidents occur because of driver error -- but it still probably sounds better than "I hit the wrong pedal."
And it would give Rep. Lampson (D) more nonsense to pursue. Oh, wait, that's former Rep. Lampson. Never mind.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 05/16/05 20:34 | Houston | Technorati
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Comments
Kev, there is actually a mechanical basis for "sudden accelleration syndrome" but I agree it is VERY often mis-diagnosed. Most cruise control systems use a feedback system in which voltage on a wire dictates throttle position. The voltage on the wire varies from 0-12V. The problem is that 0V means fully open throttle (reversing this logic prevents this problem, but few manufacturers do.). If that wire is ever damaged and shorts to the frame (ground), the voltage goes to 0V and away we go to the races. Most brake systems are not strong enough to fully restrain a vehicle at full throttle. so you could be standing on the brake and yanking with all your might on the emergency brake handle and not be able to stop it if this happens. Shifting into neutral/park and killing the engine is the only way to stop, but most people are so scared and startled that don't think about this immediately. This can happen even if the cruise control is "off" because the throttle position motor is powered anytime the engine is running.
Posted by rorschach @ 08:53 on 05/17/05
Yeah, I know in some instances that "sudden acceleration syndrome" is legit.
But making fun of the other instances has become sort of a tradition, like the Danger Train. :) Of course, PJ O'Rourke's take on it all is still the best!
Posted by Kevin @ 09:06 on 05/17/05
My wife Sherri asked me to post this since I have firsthand knowledge of sudden acceleration syndrome. Having been an auto mechanic for a number of years previously, I have seen some strange things happen.
There are other mechanical problems that can cause sudden acceleration such as a broken motor mount, broken throttle plate return spring. Or even a sticking fuel level float (in older carburetor type engines). With the newer fuel injected transverse mounted engines these items have almost been eliminated, but mechanical failure is still a possibility.
Posted by Stan @ 04:33 on 05/19/05
Thanks for posting Stan. Don't get me wrong -- I'm not denying that there are mechanical reasons that can cause the problem being discussed. I'm just saying that they are much rarer than simple driver error.
Posted by Kevin @ 08:56 on 05/19/05
We read your reply, and both agree with you; Stan mentioned HUB syndrome LOL. But I'm still interested in this subject, as well as any vehicle malfuction possibly related to programming in cars, because I am slow to trust programmed equipment that could injure and kill many based off of how many programming errors we see daily on our pc's and on the internet.
I keep an eye open for medical equipment ran by programs too. I remember having to constantly test certain equipment to make sure it was calibrated correctly. Or if we noticed a trend in equipment that didn't have calibration tests (digital thermometers vs old fashioned glass thermometers, or blood pressure machines vs manual blood pressure checks), we'd have to call the tech to check it.
So seeing first-hand how often readings were off by using computerized equipment, I'm hesitant to trust vehicles with too much programming. We already have enough because of human operator error.
Posted by Sherri @ 13:32 on 05/20/05
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