A new proposal from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that a brake override system become standard in all vehicles. Such a system would allow drivers to put a stop to runaway cars, no matter the cause. The proposal comes in light of recent accidents, in which accelerator pedals get stuck under floor mats. In 2009, four people were killed when an off-duty California highway patrolman couldn't bring his borrowed Lexus ES 350 to a stop. The reason? An accelerator trapped by a floor mat.
Toyota, GM and Ford have all recently agreed to make brake override systems standard. Toyota has a long, expensive history with NHTSA - they were fined $50 million in 2009, when they chose to recall floor mats rather than vehicles after a trend of runaway cars spiked. Toyota's "sticky accelerator pedals" are now overridden by the standardized brake system.
As a VA car accident attorney, I agree with NHTSA's proposal. I've seen too many fatal crashes occur through the years because of an accelerator malfunction. Even when an accelerator pedal is simply stuck on a floor mat, drivers are often sent into a panic mode when they learn they are unable to stop or slow down.
If you or a loved one has been in an accident involving a sticky accelerator pedal, consider consulting with an attorney. NHTSA's recommendation for a standardized brake override system will likely take years to be followed by all the major car companies. Until then, consumers need to learn how to best protect themselves in the event of a sticky pedal.
About the Editors: The Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm, which has offices in Virginia (VA) and North Carolina (NC), edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as pro bono services.
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