Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C7 Forum - View Single Post - Pontiac 100MPH Crash from "Stuck Accelerator"

Scalded Dog · 08-21-2012, 10:22 AM

Since cars were invented, these claims have been made, and have debatably signalled the death knell for certain auto manufacturers. However, in all cases, forensic investigations have either PROVEN that the driver was an utter and complete moron WHO HAD HIS TERRIFIED FOOT planted deeply into the accelerator the entire time, or, in some cases, were unable to determine the cause. Okay, there were a couple of cases that turned out to be a floor mat bunched up and pressing the accelerator... but the brakes are still way more powerful and able to overcome THAT. I personally do not believe that there has ever been a vehicle that (A) had a stuck accellerator, (B) that the brakes could not easily overcome and (C) the transmission also happened to fail and be stuck in a high speed forward gear and(D) the ingnition key could not be turned to "OFF." All four of those damn near impossible situations all coming together at one time? Not nearly as likely as an absolute and utter moron behind the wheel. I recently read an article that mentioned that a LOT of people are terrified of the notion of shifting a moving vehicle into nuetral... they think that it cannot be done. Some even think that the car will "blow up" if one tries this. No joke... some people think that. Not sure why, but while this may seem like very basic knowledge to most, to some, a car's workings are a complete and terrifying mystery. I will bet $100 dollars that the driver in the above article was simply too terrified to try shifting into neutral. He might have TOLD the dispatcher he was trying, but was actually too terrified to try. That, or he was shifting the wrong knob and just turning the wipers on. Either way: MORON. Botton, harsh line... moron.I once was on a long drive across the Kansas plains, late at night, empty highway. Had the cruise set at about 80, but after a while, the speed started creeping up. 82... 85.... 90... 95... I wasn't terribly concerned, merely amused. When it finally topped 100, I was baffled. I shifted my position, and the immediate drop in speed revealed to me that I was just being a moron: My foot had been gently resting on the accelerator the entire time. However, I was only momentarily a moron, and have chosen not to file a lawsuit, call 911, or leap from the car. I figured out what the problem was, and am willing to claim responsibilty for it.

08-21-2012, 10:22 AM	#12
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	Since cars were invented, these claims have been made, and have debatably signalled the death knell for certain auto manufacturers. However, in all cases, forensic investigations have either PROVEN that the driver was an utter and complete moron WHO HAD HIS TERRIFIED FOOT planted deeply into the accelerator the entire time, or, in some cases, were unable to determine the cause. Okay, there were a couple of cases that turned out to be a floor mat bunched up and pressing the accelerator... but the brakes are still way more powerful and able to overcome THAT. I personally do not believe that there has ever been a vehicle that (A) had a stuck accellerator, (B) that the brakes could not easily overcome and (C) the transmission also happened to fail and be stuck in a high speed forward gear and(D) the ingnition key could not be turned to "OFF." All four of those damn near impossible situations all coming together at one time? Not nearly as likely as an absolute and utter moron behind the wheel. I recently read an article that mentioned that a LOT of people are terrified of the notion of shifting a moving vehicle into nuetral... they think that it cannot be done. Some even think that the car will "blow up" if one tries this. No joke... some people think that. Not sure why, but while this may seem like very basic knowledge to most, to some, a car's workings are a complete and terrifying mystery. I will bet $100 dollars that the driver in the above article was simply too terrified to try shifting into neutral. He might have TOLD the dispatcher he was trying, but was actually too terrified to try. That, or he was shifting the wrong knob and just turning the wipers on. Either way: MORON. Botton, harsh line... moron.I once was on a long drive across the Kansas plains, late at night, empty highway. Had the cruise set at about 80, but after a while, the speed started creeping up. 82... 85.... 90... 95... I wasn't terribly concerned, merely amused. When it finally topped 100, I was baffled. I shifted my position, and the immediate drop in speed revealed to me that I was just being a moron: My foot had been gently resting on the accelerator the entire time. However, I was only momentarily a moron, and have chosen not to file a lawsuit, call 911, or leap from the car. I figured out what the problem was, and am willing to claim responsibilty for it.