Dr. Shawn’s Blog

Toyotas and Sudden Acceleration

Since the problem of sudden acceleration in certain Toyotas has been in the news for quite some time, it’s become apparent that not all claims are legitimate. In some instances, there have been true instances of unexplained sudden acceleration. Neither the government, nor Toyota, nor independent engineers have been able to determine the cause of this potentially serious issue. In other instances, human error (accidentally stepping on the accelerator) is the likely cause as it is in most cases of sudden acceleration. In a few instances, the possibility of fraudulent claims must be considered.

I’ll weigh in on this matter by simply stating the following three points that are important to keep in mind.

First, unless there is a major glitch in the design of a car, all cars are designed so that the brakes have priority over the accelerator. In other words, if you were to intentionally press the accelerator to the floor while the car is braked, the brakes should hold, preventing forward movement of the car.

Second, all manufacturers have reported claims of sudden acceleration in their cars. The problem is not unique to Toyota.

Finally, I’m reminded of a test I saw performed on Boeing’s 777 airliner several years ago prior to the plane being put into production. After the plane had returned to the airfield following a successful flight, the pilot set the brakes on the plane. He then applied acceleration (thrust) to the engines, and the plane never moved despite maximum thrust. The 777 passed this important test. Seeing this test convinced me that it was a design flaw was present, cars and planes are designed with safety in mind so that the braking system always wins.