Woman survives stuck accelerator, speeds of 110 MPH". What would YOU do?

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My local newspaper carried a story this morning about a Woman in a 2011 Kia Sorento whose accelerator apparently stuck on Interstate 35 in Missouri. She reached speeds of 110 MPH as she was dodging traffic, talking to a 911 operator on her cell phone. The story doesn't say how she got stopped, but it always amazes me when I read these stories. Does it never dawn on these people to shift into neutral? Sure, the engine may over-rev, but wouldn't that be preferable to a high speed collision? Or how about this, just shut the dang car off! OK, you lose power steering and brakes. Big deal. I think if the key was left in the "On" position after power is cut, the steering wheel will remain unlocked.
This seems so simple to me, and I can't believe a well trained 911 operator would not suggest these measures. Or am I missing something?
Jim
 
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I know the feeling! It's been a few years ago by now, but I remember getting the throttle stuck on my '46 CJ2A. I think I hit 40 mph before I got things under control, and by then the engine had a bad knock.

Scared the heck out of me!



Oh, I got enough of my foot under the pedal so I could lift up on it and get it un-stuck.
 
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I am impressed every day with the lack of common sence in the general public. I must have just grown up in a different environment i guess. My dad was a wood working teacher for 35 years and from a farm background. He tought me how to work on cars and tractors etc since I was big enough to crawl up on the bumper and look to see what he was doing. Stuck a 20 gauge in my hand at 12 and said " time to start helping feed the family". It was his willingness to raise a kid the best he could that got me here. I was never good in school but he always told me dont worry. You have way more common since than most people. That will get you a long way in this world. Its just amazing how many people DONT think about whats going on. If you are being held hostage in your own run away car without a clue what to do.........you should NOT be driving.

Hayden.
 
Hey at least she never got off the damn cell phone.:rolleyes: 911, what is your emergency?, My accelerator is stuck, what should I do???

Reminds me of the old "Blond Star Joke" (Take off of "On Star") Google Blonde Star Commercial;)


Mrs Rule is Blonde and gave me permission, but does not approve this message;)
 
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Most cars steering wont lock unless the car is in park... the key does not turn that far and will not come out. And your breaks will still work and power steering will not be noticeable at 110 mph lol. To put it simply the 911 operator should have just hung up and let natural selection do its job.

"Hi 911 Im getting seriously burnt at my house"
"Is your house on fire?"
"No Im holding onto a cookie sheet that just came out of the oven, how do I make this stop?"
 
Have an ex wife that put her car in park while it was moving.Didn't tell me about it.Started it for her a few days later and went to grab the newspaper from behind it on a long sloping driveway.A rolling car is damn hard to fend off!
 
A snapped off parking brake detent pounding around in an automatic trans is usually not good.
 
...going to neutral is the key...go to neutral...pull over...and shut it off. Most new cars that are ECM controlled have a rev limiter...but even if they don't...a blown engine beats someone getting killed.
 
911 is stupid.

PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL YOU IDIOTS! Guaranteed to slow or stop forward motion. I can GUARANTEE this can be done in every car out there.
You can turn the key off and NOT lock the steering, again, in every car out there I"ve ever seen/driven (was a mechanic and service advisor for 20 some years).

go try it in your car and you'll see.
 
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johngalt said:
These stories come up from time to time. Most likely the person missed the brake pedal and had their foot on the gas. Instead of stopping, car goes faster, person panics.

Unless the brakes are in really bad shape, they can overpower the engine and stop the car.
Click to expand...

jammed throttles are nearly unheard lately unless radical technological changes are involved such as the prius issue.
Kia, failed to avoid the problem like everyone else managed to .. so now ya want to trust their brakes? ..
even if they could, most in that situation tend to waste the brakes with several feeble attempts because they start to smell.
 
mc5aw said:
What would I have done? I would have fired up Steppenwolf"s "Born to be Wild" or Deep Purple's "Highway Star" and enjoyed the ride.
Click to expand...

rollie-free.jpg
 
How about just stepping on the brakes!? Back during the run away Toyota scare a few years ago one of the car magazines conducted a test. The cars included everything from economy subcompacts to a fire breathing modified super car. You guessed it! Brakes trumps full throttle every time.

Ed
 
Duke426 said:
Yep, throw 'er in neutral and let 'er blow.
Click to expand...

This is correct.

Put the car in neutral and you still have power assist brakes and steering.

On most vehicles you can turn the key from On/Start to Accessory. But you will not have hydraulic power to the brakes or steering. You cannot turn the key all the way off unless the shifter is in Park. And some vehicles, when the ignition is turned to Off, the steering locks. However most require the key to be removed from the ignition to lock the steering.
 
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