Without citing the source, I understand a 2010 Prius may have suffered a catastrophic steering failure. The usual hypothesis: loss of a wheel linkage failure unexpected steering motor operation Can anyone think of another hypothesis? My understanding is the driver was over 80. Bob Wilson
Linkage jam or obstruction, possibly temporary? Loss of power assist? While I wouldn't consider the later to be catastrophic or even serious (experienced it many times in my youth with stiffer-steering cars), it might catch some drivers by enough surprise to make them think the whole steering has failed.
List of possible answers after the crash: - "The T in the center of the steering wheel is not to be always aligned? Oh gosh..." - "I don't find cornering in the owner manual...Probably my lawyer will" - "My name is Sikes, don't you recognize me from the tele?"
The report mentions some drainage ditches on each side of the road. One hypothesis is a wheel left the road, the driver overcompensated and the vehicle went 'divergent.' In aviation it is called pilot induced oscillations. I've long suspected many of the teenager, single car events are over-correcting for a wheel off the road. It would be interesting to read about what is found when the vehicle is examined. Bob Wilson
The Prius isn't exactly a hand-built exotic. I regularly lament certain engineering choises that were made in designing this car, but even Prius critics have to admit that it's a well engineered car. Electricly assisted steering has been around for a while now. Yeah, there may have been an assembly in error in Aichi but I do not think you can hang this one on the Toyota....sounds more like a dead short between the driver's seat and the steering wheel.
An elderly couple in their 80s were were out driving in their new Prius. As they were cruising along they came to an intersection. The stoplight was red but they just went on through. Then Maude in the passenger seat thought to herself "I must be losing it, I could have sworn we just went through a red light." After a few more minutes they came to another intersection and the light was red again and again they went right though. This time Maude in the passenger seat was almost sure that the light had been red but was really concerned that she was losing it. She was getting nervous and decided to pay very close attention to the road and the next intersection to see what was going on. At the next intersection, sure enough, the light was definitely red and they went right through and Maude turned to George and said, "George! Did you know we just ran through three red lights in a row! You could have killed us!" George turned to her and said, "Oh, am I driving?"
That's GREAT news. A couple more PR dings for Toyota aught to be enough to drive the G3 prices down next year. Then I can buy one more cheaply for my personal use, instead of relying on my company car!
one thing about the police, once they have their experts go over a post crash vehicle, there's no question they've determined the correct cause.
Didn't you know, most Beat Cops possess dual degrees, Criminal Justice and Mechanical Engineering degrees... That's why they choose Public Service jobs, they pay so well!
