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Stuck accelerator pedal tips from UK motoring body

By Matt Brogan |

As Toyota recalls millions of its cars due to accelerator problems, the UK’s Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) today offers advice to drivers on what to do in event of such an engineering malfunction.

Although it may seem common sense to most people, those with a low panic threshold are urged to keep the following in the back of their mind should such an incident occur.

“Keep calm – surprisingly the perception of the average driver with a stuck accelerator is that they can’t brake either, but this is a misconception brought on by panic,” says Mr Stephen Mead, IAM Assistant Chief Examiner.

“Press the brake firmly, then the clutch, disengaging the power. In an automatic, drivers should brake, wait for a reaction from the vehicle and then put the car into neutral. You can still steer, too, so a stuck accelerator isn’t actually the disaster it sounds.

“Look for somewhere to stop safely, indicate and make the manoeuvre as you would under normal circumstances. There will be loud revving in the background and you will probably be in a state of shock, but if you remain calm you can avoid serious danger.”

The IAM also urged owners of vehicles affected by recalls to arrange for the vehicle to be seen by the manufacturer as soon as possible to avoid on going problems.

“Do look into getting a recall as soon as possible. Surprisingly few people actually approach manufacturers for recalls, which means the vehicles get sold on with the fault going unknown.”

Toyota vehicles sold in Australia are unaffected by this latest recall.


 
  • lazybones

    I think Toyota should really turn this negative marketing into something positive. Like instead of “Oh what a feeling” how about “Toyota, Unstoppable”

  • Jimmy

    My brakes failed once approaching a main road in a mates (most probably unroadworthy) Daihatsu I was looking after for him back in my uni days. It was such a strange sensation, it took me a few seconds to realise what was going on, by then I had no choice but to mount the kerb or go straight into the busy intersection, luckily, as I cut the corner over the footpath I pretty much came out in a parking spot between two cars on the main road and managed to apply the hand brake. That few seconds it takes to realise what’s going on is quite scary. Needless to say I left it there for him to deal with.

    • Andrew

      Did you slide into the parking space in style :P

      I remember a few years back now in my Ford Meteor, the brakes failed as the pedal went straight to the floor and the brakes subsequently locked. It was a very frightening experience, and one where I walked away saying the next car I bought would have ABS. It didn’t. But I have it now, and it has saved me on a few occasions. It’s now frightening to hit the brakes hard in the wet in my work car without ABS!

      • Jimmy

        Just about! The positioning was fortuitous to say the least. It turned out there was a crack in the brake fluid line.

        Yeah I’ve been tempted to buy an older model car recently without ABS like a Peugeot 205 from the late 80′s and early 90′s just for the fun and simplicity of them, but the safety factor has put me off. I hate getting old and cautious.

  • Ray

    There’s a news today that the new prius is having brake problems. It’s not on Caradvice yet but I guess it will soon come through. They say if you drive under 20km/hr, 1 second delay when you step on the brake. And they are the ones made in japan.

  • Not Buying A Toyota,

    After this….

    “There’s no brakes… hold on and pray’: Last words of man before he and his family died in Toyota Lexus crash

    “A harrowing phone call from a family just seconds before they were killed in a car crash caused when the accelerator pedal in a Toyota vehicle became stuck has been made public.
    The fatal incident came to light as the U.S. transport secretary Ray LaHood ordered Americans to stop driving Toyotas immediately.”"
    LINK:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1248177/Toyota-recall-Last-words-father-family-died-Lexus-crash.html

    Toyota will wish it had taken it’s head out of the Proverbial Sand and not just blamed Foreign Parts Makers for a design that was most probably Approved in Japan and thoroughly Quality Controlled Tested on an ongoing basis to make sure it conformed to the Original Japanese Approved design.

    Unfortunately when things go suddenly wrong People just do not think straight…The reason ABS brakes work perfectly in an emergency situation.

    • Reckless1

      Did I read correctly that Toyota has been claiming the Lexus in NOT affected.

    • Robin Graves

      Typical of Yanks, first thing they think of is to ‘call 911′ how about knocking it into neutral – or turning off the engine (without locking the steering). The brakes will quickly fade if the engine is working against them for any length of time.

      • Camry lover

        No need to generalise, stereotype and derogate Americans. Comments like that are most uncalled for. Thank you.

  • Shak

    How stupid is this.”…you will probably be in a state of shock, but if you remain calm you can avoid serious danger.” How can you remain calm if you are in shock. They are opposites. But generally for the 65 yr olds who own Toyota, these things wont occur to them as they will panic.

  • http://www.caradvice.com.au Macs for me

    Ford & Holden (GM) have all had there share of recalls, as have most brands, but in one action Toyota have made all previous recalls look irrelevant.

    The size of this recall is monumental…this surely has to have some impact on that almost impossible to tarnish Toyota reputation.

    Cheers

    Chris

  • Reckless1

    I’d just cut about 1″ off the bottom of that pedal, and the problem would be solved……

  • ann duley

    Do not think this has not happened in Australia. We have a 2009 lexus rx 350 and have had constant acceleration problems since last June when we got the car.It only happens in cruise control the car takes off ,it can be on the flat ,up hills, and downhills it goes 45kph over the set speed. Lexus have called us liars .We knew nothing about acceleration problems, till we googled after they once again told us there was nothing wrong We bought the car at Sutherland Lexus . We had a rx330 for nearly 5 years and not a problem, I wish I hadn’t sold it.

  • http://www.facebook.com Mal

    The more I look the more I find people with the same issue. I have a Toyota Kluger only 18 months old and it has stuck twice. In my case it is confirmed to NOT be the floor mats – they are factory standard and are tethered with hooks.

    Toyota is burying their head in the sand. Crashes are happening, people are getting hurt – what does it take for Toyota to listen!