As far as the brakes, I can see if you are sitting at a stop sign and a car starts to accelerate, the brakes are likely strong enough to stop it.

But if it's already doing 60, and then gets full power - wouldn't that likely overpower the puny brakes that are on most new cars these days?

This stupid push button start system really needs to be done with. It's so silly, it has no function on most cars (you have to insert a key anyways!), and it's just a useless and dangerous marketing gimmick.

Apparently not in all cases.

Putting the transmission in neutral apparently isn't always as easy it might first appear.

For example, what happens when you put the electronic shift lever into the neutral position, but the transmission itself mechanically stays in Drive?

If that happens, it's not neutral.

Going to reverse or park would be the next thing to try.

If that fails, turning off the ignition would be next... if the road is relatively straight.

Then turning it to "accessory" or whatever to get the steering unlocked.

I have had the throttle stick wide open on a car with double the power (three times, if you just count the gasoline engine) of that Prius and had no problem regulating the speed of the car. In fact, I drove it to the next exit on the highway, through a stop light and down some surface streets to a store, where I could buy some tools and work on the car. No damage was done to the brakes either.

That car may have a problem but I'm fairly sure the driver was part of it. I have a hard time imagining a situation where I couldn't get a car stopped. You have to wonder why so much of this crap happens in the US and not elsewhere.

JR

Then what happens when you put the electronic shift lever into park and reverse, and still it stays in Drive (I know at least one person reported that's what they did).

Turning to "accessory" isn't possible, since there is no mechanical "key" to turn.

As far as turning off the ignition - I don't know if it's possible when the car is doing 60 mph. I've read conflicting stories on that. Some say you have to hold the "Start" button down for 3 seconds. Others suggest that won't work, the car won't shut off.

The CHP guy that crashed, I'm pretty certain he would have tried putting it in neutral, park and reverse. That's not hard to figure out, and being CHP I assume he has a far above average understanding of how a car works. I'd guess he tried to shut the car down, too.

The one they were showing all over the news this morning (the prius) was being driven by a fairly large guy. He said he was "standing" on the brakes as hard as he could, but the car wouldn't slow down. There was also some kind of highway patrol that witnessed it, he said he could smell the brakes burning.

And, I'm sure the CHP guy who crashed would have certainly been trained enough to stand as hard as possible on the brake pedal, don't you think? Still, that particular car didn't stop.

Hard to know for sure what's going on.

Why won't the brakes be able to stop you?

Most cars can go from 60 to zero in less than 150 feet. If you go from 0 to 60 in 3 seconds, you will need 264 feet (you can do the physics your self). If it takes longer, you wil go even further.

Seems that "puny" brakes should slow you down just fine in just about any car on hte raod.

As seen in a different thread:

Just think of the disbelief dwell time on each "just do x" action.

First, you're standing on the brakes - nothing . .. as the system give priority to the go-pedal, you tell yourself "This can't be . . every one knows that brake HP out pace the motor HP."

Then you finally think "I'll shift the electronic selector knob to the "Neutral" position . .." Nada

FUUUUU*********

I'll just press the big on/off button.. poke . . poke. . poke ... FUUUU******** (read the manual to know that while moving you must press and hold for t h r e e s e c o n d s.

Now, how much ground have all you "just do x"-guys just covered?

This is all a scam, people don't know how to drive. I'm sorry to deflat the ego's who want Toyota's ass, but this is so blown out of proportion, I can't believe.There's a driver in Carmel In. who want's to sue Toyota, for what, nothing. She say's there is nothing wrong with her car, but want's Toyota to know that she cant drive her car anymore, because SOMETHING might happen. She want's to be added to a FUTURE lawsuit. This is the kind of **** that's wrong with so many people.

Common wisdom certainly seems to be that the brakes on a car are more than sufficient to stop the car, even at full throttle.

I don't have the answer. But, what do you think happened with the CHP guy? Do you think he wasn't trained enough to stand on the brakes to try to stop the runaway car? Again, I don't know, but it's hard to believe he didn't do that.

One thing for sure, EVERY accident involving a Toyota from now on is going to be blamed on the car.

Common wisdom applied to uncommon design --what could possibly go wrong?

I wonder how long until newer cars have a N button on the electronic automatic tranny and a master kill switch for the ignition. Bets Toyota does it first? ;p

Since the gub'ment and legality is now involved:
All new vehicles will now have less HP than their brakes.
Retroactive.

That is the common wisdom, and it has been shown in many tests. That's why I asked the question to start this thread. They say the cop could smell the Prius' brakes, indicating that the driver was using them to stop. But as others have said, there seems to be a computer override. What the hell is wrong with the old system?

I am a little short on cash this month. So thinking of Renting a toyota then calling 911 saying the car is out of control. Then I get to drive a 100 mph on the fwy with a police escort burning out the rental cars brakes because I am so stupid I don't know to put the car in neutral but that is another story so any way after my joy ride I will need a good lawyer so I can fund my around the world criuse using toyota money.

I think a few more of these and we can put toyota out of business. SmileWavy

You hit the nail on the head. More Gov't control with more Gov't car's with less control and options from the buyer. YOU WILL DRIVE THE CARS WE TELL YOU TO DRIVE.

Do you really have to wonder?

That guy's brake linings were on fire from so much braking.