AWW$HEEET Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 http://jalopnik.com/5488716/out+of+control-toyota-prius-stopped-by-california-patrol-car An out-of-control Toyota Prius was brought to a halt today in San Diego by a California Highway Patrol car putting itself in front of it like a brake. According to the CHP, the car suffered from a stuck accelerator. The driver of the runaway Toyota Prius called CHP while driving eastbound on Interstate 8 near San Diego around 1:30 PM PST, screaming about a stuck accelerator and being unable to shift the car into neutral. California Highway Patrol responded, putting a patrol car in front of the Prius, eventually stopping the car near La Posta Bridge. This high-profile incident comes on the same day Toyota made a similarly high-profile defense of its cars. In response, Toyota has dispatched a technical specialist to investigate the problem. Toyota claims: "[They] learned of a report that a California Highway Patrol (CHP) unit was dispatched in response to a 911 call from a motorist driving a Prius on Interstate 8 in San Diego County who said the accelerator pedal was stuck. The report states that the CHP unit slowed in front of the vehicle and acted as a brake to bring it to a stop. Toyota has dispatched a field technical specialist to San Diego to investigate the report and offer assistance." The Prius appears to be a 2004-to-2009 Prius, which is under the floor mat recall but not the brake pedal recall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sol740 Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 Nothing to see here folks ... move along ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 Prius.....hippy tree-hugger was likely only going 45mph on the freeway anyway....not a big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagner Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 People need to stop picking on Toyota their products are safe and everybody that makes cars has recalls right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unfunnyryan Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 was likely only going 45mph on the freeway anyway....not a big deal. beat me to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcz06 Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 People need to stop picking on Toyota their products are safe and everybody that makes cars has recalls right? Yep, their called TSB's. They have them on every car. The only time a company makes a recall of a certain TSB is when the majority of the particular model have the issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOPR Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 On March 8, 2010, at approximately 1:30 PM Mr. James Sikes (61) was traveling eastbound on I-8 from Lake Jennings Park Rd. in a Blue Toyota Prius. As he attempted to accelerate past a slower moving vehicle, he noticed that the vehicle seemed be accelerating on its own. He immediately attempted to slow his vehicle unsuccessfully. Reaching speeds of over 90 mph he called 911. The California Highway Patrol immediately went through a series of actions with negative results. CHP Officers immediately responded to the area were able to locate the vehicle eastbound I-8 east of Kitchen Creek Rd. A CHP Officer was able to pull along side and instruct Mr. Sikes via the PA system. With the Officers assistance, he was able to slow the Prius to approximately 50 m.p.h. The Officer then placed his patrol vehicle in front of the Prius as it came to a stop in the number #1 lane of e/b I-8. The Officer then placed the patrol vehicle against the front bumper of Prius. The vehicles did not touch until after they came to a stop. can someone explain this to me? the car was completely out of control and he could not stop it, yet the cop gave him directions and he completely stopped? without making contact? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOS50 Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 "PUT IT IN NEUTRAL IDIOT"!Wow that was a close one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berto Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 Its ridiculous that people get on the phone to make a 911 call when their car is going 90+. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 "PUT IT IN NEUTRAL IDIOT"!Wow that was a close one. I agree, but the driver was quoted as saying they couldn't. It's been a long while since I've driven one, but the shifter is completely electronic and perhaps if it is an electrical/ECU issue that would be the case. Or perhaps the Prius actually won't let you put it in Nuetral. Reason 1,234,556 to make all cars manual transmissions. It would certainly help keep people focused on driving let alone much safer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 (edited) can someone explain this to me? the car was completely out of control and he could not stop it, yet the cop gave him directions and he completely stopped? without making contact? The previous issues that have been stated about run-away Prius's has been a cruise control issue. If this car has "active cruise control" then the laser or radar sensor could have detected the cop car slowing in front and braked the car. However, these systems do not brake the car to a full stop, so the disengage at low speed. That's my best guess. EDIT: CNN is reporting that he used the e-brake to slow th car to 50 mph, then was somehow able to shut the car off. Edited March 9, 2010 by Mallard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOPR Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 The previous issues that have been stated about run-away Prius's has been a cruise control issue. If this car has "active cruise control" then the laser or radar sensor could have detected the cop car slowing in front and braked the car. However, these systems do not brake the car to a full stop, so the disengage at low speed. That's my best guess. EDIT: CNN is reporting that he used the e-brake to slow th car to 50 mph, then was somehow able to shut the car off. I don't think adaptive cruise control was available on the 2nd gen Prius. But I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 I don't think adaptive cruise control was available on the 2nd gen Prius. But I could be wrong. Ah, I see now that this was a second gen, while "the Woz" has complaints with his 3rd gen. I don't think the 2nd gen's did come with adaptive cruise control. FWIW, Toyota is now blaming it on the floor mat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossle Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 You have to move the fiber optic shifter to the left and hold it there to engage neutral. most likely they were banging it over in panic and that does not work. I am not a fan of the push button start cars for this reason, not easy to just shut the car off. You have to hold the button and wait, which is tough to do in an emergency situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 I hope Toyota kills off all the conservative fat lazy idiots in the world, and starts making Supras again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unfunnyryan Posted March 10, 2010 Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 I hope Toyota kills off all the conservative fat lazy idiots in the world, and starts making Supras again. Nope, just a lot of priuses that get on the highway and like to pretend they are Supras. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImUrOBGYN Posted March 10, 2010 Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 Interesting updates: Local news in San Diego reported that he (Prius owner) filed 2 burglary reports for over 50k and they found that the reports were unsubstantiated. What do you bet he did this for lawsuit money? They also found he had just been to Toyota asking about the accelrator recall and they told him there were no acceleration issues with his prius only the floormat recall. Then, coincidentally, this happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragknee66 Posted March 10, 2010 Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 I think people are milking the shit out of this situation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcan900 Posted March 10, 2010 Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 I wonder if Toyota will go after them if it indeed was a false alarm and the guy is just going for money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted March 10, 2010 Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 I think people are milking the shit out of this situation IDK...that story on the news today with the older guy and blue Prius seemed pretty legit. Doesn't mean shit of course but just my opinion. My sister in law has an 08 Prius as a DD hauling her two kids around and they have since parked it until this is all worked out. I can't blame them. I wouldn't risk it with my kids either. I just don't buy the whole floor mat bullshit. I buy it more than likely being an ECU or other mechanical issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted March 10, 2010 Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 However, these systems do not brake the car to a full stop, so the disengage at low speed. Volvo does have one that does. My brother in law just drove a new XC60 and at speeds of 10mph or less (bumper to bumper traffic) the car will stop dead short of hitting the vehicle in front of him. They demo'd the system while on the test drive by heading for a roadside barrel with reflective strips on it. He loves that feature given he's often in bumper to bumper traffic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGU Posted March 10, 2010 Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 I think people are milking the shit out of this situation +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceGhost Posted March 10, 2010 Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 LOL, just do a barrel roll! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallard Posted March 10, 2010 Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 Volvo does have one that does. My brother in law just drove a new XC60 and at speeds of 10mph or less (bumper to bumper traffic) the car will stop dead short of hitting the vehicle in front of him. They demo'd the system while on the test drive by heading for a roadside barrel with reflective strips on it. He loves that feature given he's often in bumper to bumper traffic. Yes, I know there are full-stop (all speed) ACC vehicles out there (Mercedes S-Calss too). These need to use radar sensors, while other systems (like the Prius) use infrared/laser sensors that are not capable of full-stop function. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWW$HEEET Posted March 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 kinda like the dealership that wouldnt fix that dudes tundra, or refund him, so he drove his shit through the showroom and blamed it on a stuck accelerator. the cops sided w him too, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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