Great News! Toyota makes brake override standard by EOY 2010
From the Detroit Auto Show, big news:
DETROIT -- Toyota will install brake override systems on all Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles by year end as a way to prevent unintended acceleration.
The new system will be put in all vehicles globally, said Yoshi Inaba, president of Toyota North America Inc., in an interview at the Detroit auto show today. The initiative follows a recall last fall of 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the United States to correct the problem.
This is excellent news. If your accelerator and brake are depressed at the same time, this system automatically cuts the engine to idle. Still no word why Toyota failed to provide this fix since about 2002 when reports of SUAs in Toyota's suddenly increased. But at least they're acknowledging the solution and are going to make it standard.
As we've blogged before, if you get in a situation where you vehicle suddenly accelerates and the accelerator pedal will not return, do NOT pump your brakes. Simply depress the brake firmly and hold it down until stopped. Then switch the vehicle to neutral and once stopped, immediately power off.
If you've been injured or know someone who has been injured in a SUA event while operating a Toyota, please don't hesitate to contact the Law Office of D. Hardison Wood to speak with an attorney about sudden unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. 1-877-829-7211.
