Your car computer may kill you.

[FJRGuy]

I've always liked Dvorak. He's cranky!

John Dvorak??? :blink: Hell, I'm not even going to read the article now!

The Woz is the REAL genius behind the original Apple computers.

Fixed it for ya! Jobs is unquestionably the REAL genius behind the corporation!

...On a different note .. when accelerators stick and people go flying down the freeway and then call 911 or something .. why don't they turn off the ignition or stand on the brakes or shift into neutral and let the engine blow up? It's all gotta be better than running into people and things at high speed.

Most people are unskilled, untrained and, let's face it, just plain stupid.

... but re-read my last post.

That would imply reading it in the first place... skipped that one due to length!

... I think 90+% of drivers are grossly underqualified to operate a car. ...

I'd say higher for certain 'groups' of people. IMHO

I think everyone in NA should stop buying Toyotas!!! (I'd like to pick up a few real cheap! )

 

[Geezer]

When a Nissan's brakes are applied, the throttle is over-ridden (wow, how simple is that?),

I like being able to use both the brake and throttle at the same time. I know it's not necessary for street driving, but I enjoy driving and part of that enjoyment is getting the most out of my vehicle at times. So I do heel-toe the brake and throttle while I downshift when I'm in the mood. I do the same on my FJR almost every time I downshift, except I have to use my right hand to squeeze the brake and twist the throttle at the same time.

I suppose an interlock between throttle and brake would be OK for an automatic transmission, which is what most people drive these days, but not for everyone. Maybe we could have an interlock, and a means for disabling it if we want to, similar to the way I can disable the traction control by holding in the button for several seconds.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

When a Nissan's brakes are applied, the throttle is over-ridden (wow, how simple is that?),

I like being able to use both the brake and throttle at the same time. I know it's not necessary for street driving, but I enjoy driving and part of that enjoyment is getting the most out of my vehicle at times. So I do heel-toe the brake and throttle while I downshift when I'm in the mood.

Pro-Rally drivers do that, too -- drive with both feet. Often with a clutch switch on the shift lever so both feet can be deployed, constantly (they're either flat-out accelerating or slowing rapidly... ).

Many American drivers drive with both feet -- but, for a totally different reason (ineptitude...).

I do the same on my FJR almost every time I downshift, except I have to use my right hand to squeeze the brake and twist the throttle at the same time.

Be very careful there...! Modulating the throttle while applying the brakes with the same hand is/can be a recipe for a serious control problem (IMO). :blink:

Better to finish braking and then twist the throttle..., I think. :huh:

I suppose an interlock between throttle and brake would be OK for an automatic transmission, which is what most people drive these days, but not for everyone. Maybe we could have an interlock, and a means for disabling it if we want to, similar to the way I can disable the traction control by holding in the button for several seconds.

'Cept..., that would require some driver education on when and where to use the 'disable' function -- and we've (America) already demonstrated utter failure in educating drivers.

Automatic 'everything' appears to be our only recourse, now...?

 

[Grumpy]

Just being consiratorial .. how many have died from this sudden acceleration issue? 19? And how many cars affected? Millions? And then the Prius brake recall at the same time?
So the conspiracy theorist in me starts to chatter, and like all good conspiracies we need to start with the desired outcome and select facts to support our position.

Desired outcome: The US gov't wanted to boost sales for the carmakers it owns (GM and Chrysler).

How: By initiating unwarranted recalls against Toyota, more customers will buy GM/Chrysler.

See? Makes perfect sense!

On a different note .. when accelerators stick and people go flying down the freeway and then call 911 or something .. why don't they turn off the ignition or stand on the brakes or shift into neutral and let the engine blow up? It's all gotta be better than running into people and things at high speed.

Gunny +1

 

[MotorToad]

When a Nissan's brakes are applied, the throttle is over-ridden (wow, how simple is that?),

I like being able to use both the brake and throttle at the same time. I know it's not necessary for street driving, but I enjoy driving and part of that enjoyment is getting the most out of my vehicle at times. So I do heel-toe the brake and throttle while I downshift when I'm in the mood. I do the same on my FJR almost every time I downshift, except I have to use my right hand to squeeze the brake and twist the throttle at the same time.

I suppose an interlock between throttle and brake would be OK for an automatic transmission, which is what most people drive these days, but not for everyone. Maybe we could have an interlock, and a means for disabling it if we want to, similar to the way I can disable the traction control by holding in the button for several seconds.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I downshift properly, too. The throttle can be overridden and still not set to 0%. Little of this matters as 90% of the cars are automatics with sheep at the wheel, but an intelligent system wouldn't respond to a quick stab on the brakes but would then limit the throttle to ~40-50% after a second or so of continuous brake application. That should be more than enough to get your downshifts in and roll into the throttle while you're trail braking, but still allow enough engine vacuum for the weakest-kneed to stop the car with the brakes.

And how funny is it that your friendly nanny-state government requires your motorcycle to have a kill switch, but not your car?

 

[Geezer]

And how funny is it that your friendly nanny-state government requires your motorcycle to have a kill switch, but not your car?

I have been thinking about the kill switch idea myself. As more cars have push button starters and electronic controls, a kill switch sounds more and more like a good idea.

 

[Checkswrecks]

And how funny is it that your friendly nanny-state government requires your motorcycle to have a kill switch, but not your car?

I have been thinking about the kill switch idea myself. As more cars have push button starters and electronic controls, a kill switch sounds more and more like a good idea.

Interesting how "progress" may be pushing us back to them.

Kill switches on motorcycles came about after problems with 1960s ignitions/keys that were located under the side of the steering head or seat. If the motorcycle fell over, people couldn't turn them off, so kill switches were added to the handlebars by the Japs and NHTSA picked up the idea when switchology standardized, about 40 years ago.

People don't read the owners manuals for new cars now, so are unaware that they have to press and HOLD the start switch to kill the engine. Re-reading the words of that sentence, it sounds like Detroit hired a bunch of ex-Microsoft programmers. So maybe you're right, we'll soon start to see placards or kill switches.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

My take (re. motorcycles):

'Kill' switches were used in the early years of the 20th century by board-track racers and were made from a piece of hack-saw blade and some insulating tape, attached to the handlebar, they 'killed' (grounded) the primary voltage from the magneto. For board-track use, the function was to slow the bike for cornering or traffic -- you see, they had no brakes nor throttle slide/butterfly -- they ran 'wide-open'...! Now that's racin'... (none of that fancy "electronic traction control").

Many early motorcycles had magneto ignitions (permanent magnet sourced spark) and the kill switch was a convenient way to stop the engine.

IME, the street-use adoption, universally, came about from law-suits in about 1969/70 against Honda for (claims of...) throttles sticking wide-open on Honda 750 fours (unintended acceleration... ). The same law-suits also brought the appearance of dual (opening and closing) throttle cables. The 'closing' cable, pretty much, ended such claims... :blink: