Trailbraking outlawed by Federal Government

[Zander]

I'm quite certain that this will only effect "all" new-model cars

Thats what I was thinking too. It would be too much work for uncle sam to make sure this got put on millions upon millions of older vehicles.

[JGood]

I do find the "throttle sticking while on the highway and hitting 120mph, etc..." stories hard to believe. Per some of the above posts, even the shittiest brake pads can overpower most engines at full throttle. On the highway, there is enough time to react, no matter who you are.

I'm willing to bet most of the incidents that happen around town are the normal people, non-automotive enthusiasts, who aren't used to throwing a car around and mashing the pedals. To these people, there just isn't enough time to react before they hit shit. They panic and don't do the simple things that will stop a car.

I've had my throttle stick in various cars for various reasons (floormat in my V8 explorer, lower dash panel on my track car... on the track, an e30 with a stuck throttle spring, another floormat in my Dad's V8 Bronco), and if you aren't ready for it, it takes a lot longer to realize what's going on and how to properly stop it then what you might imagine, and you can cover a lot of ground in that time.

[Wh33lhop]

Nah, I bet they're actually depressing the brakes as if they're coming to a stop sign rather than applying them forcefully. Most people generally do not know what hard braking is.

Indeed; they also don't know how to shift into neutral or turn off the ignition.

[87e30]

This is so stupid.

[DarkWing6]

Nah, I bet they're actually depressing the brakes as if they're coming to a stop sign rather than applying them forcefully. Most people generally do not know what hard braking is.

Driver's Ed should include "this is what ABS feels like".

[HarryPotter]

This thread just makes me depressed.

[shiboujin]

Indeed; they also don't know how to shift into neutral or turn off the ignition.

Cuz you really want your car off when you're braking?

[HarryPotter]

I heard the electronics wouldn't even allow the car to be put into neutral. If they just had a damn 5 speed they could easily pop it into neutral.

[mrsleeve]

Oh goodie more govt regulation and creating a solution for a problem that dose not exist

[Rodoni]

I heard the electronics wouldn't even allow the car to be put into neutral. If they just had a damn 5 speed they could easily pop it into neutral.

Or 6. Considering a lot of manual cars nowadays are 6 speeds.

[HarryPotter]

This is true, I still don't like auto cars and never will. Maybe, maybe when I'm old as shit.

[peerless]

The Obama administration is considering requiring all automobiles to contain a brake override system

Oh goodie more govt regulation and creating a solution for a problem that dose not exist

[ALYKZANDYR]

The Govn't just needs to fucking quit. Im sick of all the bullshit ideas to make cars "safer" GOD DAMN IT!!! LEAVE OUR CARS ALONE!!!!!

[mar1t1me]

The Govn't just needs to fucking quit. Im sick of all the bullshit ideas to make cars "safer" GOD DAMN IT!!! LEAVE OUR CARS ALONE!!!!!

While I agree with this to certain extent, I'm certain there were those who said exactly the same thing when seatbelts, crushable steering columns and dashboards not made of metal were mandated. ;)

There's a difference, however, between mandates designed to protect consumers from bad design, and mandates to protect consumers from themselves.....

I think we need better driver education, not more complex safety nets...

[Erick]

Ok ok, can someone please explain to me what's happening with these accelerator problems? I can understand the driver not being able to "outbrake" the motor in full throttle, but can't you just put these transmissions in neutral?

I don't understand that part. Oh, and this new "rule" is retarded. But call me a car enthusiast.