Unintended Sudden Acceleration of an Hyundai Elantra Ended in High-Speed Crash
02-23-13, 11:04 AM
#16
I just realized why this doesn't happen in most other countries.
Because in most other countries, the general public who don't care about cars all travel by public transportation. People who are willing to spend so much money to buy a car are mostly car enthusiast or professional driver like a taxi driver. So in general they have pretty good knowledges of how a car works.
But in the U.S., even folks who care nothing about a car are forced to drive.
Is like if we all have to fly our own plane.
Because in most other countries, the general public who don't care about cars all travel by public transportation. People who are willing to spend so much money to buy a car are mostly car enthusiast or professional driver like a taxi driver. So in general they have pretty good knowledges of how a car works.
But in the U.S., even folks who care nothing about a car are forced to drive.
Is like if we all have to fly our own plane.
02-23-13, 11:05 AM
#17
I just realized why this doesn't happen in most other countries.
Because in most other countries, the general public who don't care about cars all travel by public transportation. People who are willing to spend so much money to buy a car are mostly car enthusiast or professional driver like a taxi driver. So in general they have pretty good knowledges of how a car works.
Because in most other countries, the general public who don't care about cars all travel by public transportation. People who are willing to spend so much money to buy a car are mostly car enthusiast or professional driver like a taxi driver. So in general they have pretty good knowledges of how a car works.
02-23-13, 12:07 PM
#18
To everyone, while it is second nature to us how a car works, I think there are tons of driver on the road really don't understand all the basic function of a car. I can see how if their gas pedal is stuck under the floor mat, they really have no clue what to do.
I really believe they have no clue how to or what "putting it into neutral" means.
So I think is more like they don't know how, is not that they can't do it.
I really believe they have no clue how to or what "putting it into neutral" means.
So I think is more like they don't know how, is not that they can't do it.
This is why the stupid news media need to do a follow up story AND clarify that the driver "panicked" rather than portraying these evil metals all of sudden decided to speed on its own and out of control.
But then again, the media likes to feed these type of stories
02-24-13, 08:38 AM
#19
Lexus Champion
I wonder what happened?
Did tbe floor mat slip, trapping the accelerator pedal to the floor and keeping the brake pedal from being pressed down all the way?
Does the driver not realize that the lever next to the gearshift is for the MECHANICAL EMERGENCY/parking brake (that would not be affected by failure of electronics that may have affected the drive-by-wire accelerator and brake pedal/ABS/traction control/stability control)? But then, seeing that it is an auto-trans car, the parking brake is probably ignored and never used so that the driver forgets that it is there (and why it is there).
I believe that the 2011 Elantra has the zig-zag gated shifter. That should be very easy to tap the shift lever from D(rive) up into N(eutral) without having to worry about accidentally tapping too far and into R(everse). Or does that model have a linear shifter with the push-button gate release? If so, does it require a push of the button to shift from Drive to Neutral (as Ford's auto-trans require)? That, IMO, is stupid and dangerous.
Have cars become so much like video games that we have forgotten what all the different parts -- accelerator and brake pedals, gear shift gates, and mechanical parking/emergency brake -- are for and how they work?
Perhaps we need to insist (by force of law, if necessary) that all drivers require a formal driver's education course before getting licenced?
Did tbe floor mat slip, trapping the accelerator pedal to the floor and keeping the brake pedal from being pressed down all the way?
Does the driver not realize that the lever next to the gearshift is for the MECHANICAL EMERGENCY/parking brake (that would not be affected by failure of electronics that may have affected the drive-by-wire accelerator and brake pedal/ABS/traction control/stability control)? But then, seeing that it is an auto-trans car, the parking brake is probably ignored and never used so that the driver forgets that it is there (and why it is there).
I believe that the 2011 Elantra has the zig-zag gated shifter. That should be very easy to tap the shift lever from D(rive) up into N(eutral) without having to worry about accidentally tapping too far and into R(everse). Or does that model have a linear shifter with the push-button gate release? If so, does it require a push of the button to shift from Drive to Neutral (as Ford's auto-trans require)? That, IMO, is stupid and dangerous.
Have cars become so much like video games that we have forgotten what all the different parts -- accelerator and brake pedals, gear shift gates, and mechanical parking/emergency brake -- are for and how they work?
Perhaps we need to insist (by force of law, if necessary) that all drivers require a formal driver's education course before getting licenced?
02-24-13, 09:59 AM
#20
please teach all your family and friends to shift to neutral and other techniques to mitigate this type of situation. He is extremely lucky to be alive.
I know for sure in the 2IS that there is no shift button, you can just push the shifter from D to N easily
I know for sure in the 2IS that there is no shift button, you can just push the shifter from D to N easily
02-24-13, 10:25 AM
#21
Lexus Champion
To everyone, while it is second nature to us how a car works, I think there are tons of driver on the road really don't understand all the basic function of a car. I can see how if their gas pedal is stuck under the floor mat, they really have no clue what to do.
I really believe they have no clue how to or what "putting it into neutral" means.
So I think is more like they don't know how, is not that they can't do it.
I really believe they have no clue how to or what "putting it into neutral" means.
So I think is more like they don't know how, is not that they can't do it.
Plus--this wasn't something that happened in an instant--911 can guide him thru putting the car in neutral.
02-24-13, 10:29 AM
#22
Lexus Champion
Emergency operators are heard on the calls frantically trying to find a solution. They urge the teenager - without success - to try different ways to bring the 2011 Hyundai Elantra under control, including putting it in neutral, or turning off the ignition.
“It won’t go in neutral. He can’t turn it off. The brake pedal won’t work,” a dispatcher is heard saying on the recording.
“I am calling a Hyundai dealership to see if they have any tips," she continues to tell the teenager, "because I have looked online and there’s nothing.”
“It won’t go in neutral. He can’t turn it off. The brake pedal won’t work,” a dispatcher is heard saying on the recording.
“I am calling a Hyundai dealership to see if they have any tips," she continues to tell the teenager, "because I have looked online and there’s nothing.”
02-24-13, 11:48 AM
#25
I just realized why this doesn't happen in most other countries.
Because in most other countries, the general public who don't care about cars all travel by public transportation. People who are willing to spend so much money to buy a car are mostly car enthusiast or professional driver like a taxi driver. So in general they have pretty good knowledges of how a car works.
But in the U.S., even folks who care nothing about a car are forced to drive.
Is like if we all have to fly our own plane.
Because in most other countries, the general public who don't care about cars all travel by public transportation. People who are willing to spend so much money to buy a car are mostly car enthusiast or professional driver like a taxi driver. So in general they have pretty good knowledges of how a car works.
But in the U.S., even folks who care nothing about a car are forced to drive.
Is like if we all have to fly our own plane.
02-24-13, 12:12 PM
#26
Lexus Test Driver
Wow, I'm glad I'm not so stupid. I think people should have to learn proper driving techniques, as well as emergency tactics. In addition, they should also learn how a damn car works.
This incident reminds me of this video
WARNING: The F bomb is dropped about 40 times in this video.
This incident reminds me of this video
WARNING: The F bomb is dropped about 40 times in this video.
02-24-13, 12:13 PM
#27
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
don't buy it. screwed up, got confused, played out the story, now looking to cash in. 
02-24-13, 01:07 PM
#29
Quick question, this car, as well as the es350 has been sold in other countries, and if the platform of the es350 is as similiar to the camry as everyone says it is, then that means that the car is all over the world in HUGE numbers, yet only the US had problems with unintended acceleration? I don't understand that. Also this Elantra has been out for a decent amount of time, I have never heard of this happening anywhere until now. I'm not saying that just because i haven't heard of it, doesn't mean it can't happen, but it seems unlikely for lack of a better word.
02-24-13, 01:31 PM
#30
Lexus Champion
I just realized why this doesn't happen in most other countries.
Because in most other countries, the general public who don't care about cars all travel by public transportation. People who are willing to spend so much money to buy a car are mostly car enthusiast or professional driver like a taxi driver. So in general they have pretty good knowledges of how a car works.
But in the U.S., even folks who care nothing about a car are forced to drive.
Is like if we all have to fly our own plane.
Because in most other countries, the general public who don't care about cars all travel by public transportation. People who are willing to spend so much money to buy a car are mostly car enthusiast or professional driver like a taxi driver. So in general they have pretty good knowledges of how a car works.
But in the U.S., even folks who care nothing about a car are forced to drive.
Is like if we all have to fly our own plane.