Accident in Prius, Engine would not shut off

Let's put it this way, driving up to this scene makes for a tow-trucker drivers day. Hook on to a door handle, give it a slow tug till it reaches the tipping point, and then watch it slam back down to the ground on all four wheels.

 

dhs - I could certainly envision not having the presence of mind to hold down a button for 3 secs after an accident like that. For that matter, given that it rolled on the driver's side, even a minor head bump from energy insufficient to trigger the airbag could make one not think clearly enough to even turn a regular ol' key off. I'd be most concerned, in this order, about (1) are you *sure* you didn't sustain even a mild head injury--I just can't see *not* banging your head into something when rolling onto the driver's side--(2) make sure the insurance adjustor knows the engine ran for some time with the car on its side and that you're concerned about engine damage from insufficient lubrication.

Regarding (1) above--I say this out of concern, not to imply that you "should" have thought to hold the button down; I know a number of people who felt fine immediately after a head injury and then had problems days or more later. The important thing is that you make sure *you* are OK; it stinks to have an accident (especially a hit and run) degrade the value of your new car, but a brain hemorrhage can really ruin your day. I hope you truly are OK.
~T

 

I'm sure they will have to come up with a better system in the future. I'm more worried that a single press of the power button will cause more accidents than it helps. But a roll over sensor that also lets the car power off with a single press might be a good idea or if the car shut off on it's own. But what if the car was on fire or another car was on fire that was pressed against your car and you couldn't get the door open, and i would think the next step would be to try and open a window. If the car shut itself off you would be screwed. Or if you bumped the power button for one second climbing around in the car that was on fire, or near another car on fire, you would not be able to open the windows.

 

Yet you wrote your OP acting like you were fully unaware of the 3 second rule and there was no way to get the engine to shut off even after the fact?

How's that different from being unable to remember under duress to push the key in or pushing a certain button (depending on the make/model) in order to get it out?

I guarantee you there will be people who will still miss the label even if it's right on front of them while under duress.

 

Fair enough. I don't think a label would have helped you if you weren't thinking clearly, especially if you were on your side.

 

Obviously there is a problem with technologically complex automobiles. These drive by wire automobiles are starting to have similar problems as fly by wire airplanes. Reminds me of the recent story about a new Quantas A380 jet that that lost a turbine fan which cut-up fuel lines, hydraulic lines, and electrical cables. They were able to land the plane but were not able to shut off the adjacent engine for nearly 2 hours. (They finally got the adjacent engine to stop running by spraying a large amount of foam into the engine.)

The more stories I hear, the more I want a real EPO (Emergency Power Off) switch.

Keith

 

Just a quick question but how old you are (rough estimate)?

You say holding power is not obvious to you, but it is to me and all of my generation and younger. Give anybody in their 20's or lower a frozen computer or some electronic device not working or wanting to be shutoff and it is immediately obvious to hold the power button for an extended period to shut off. If your Xbox/PS3 is frozen, hold the power button for ~8seconds. If your PC/Mac is frozen or not responsive hold the power button for ~3-5seconds. If your mp3player/ipod is frozen or glitchy, hold the power button for a few seconds.

It is second nature now. If you are a bit older or just technologically challenged then I can see how this could be a problem. But it is clearly stated in the owners manual.

I realize you werent in a rational state of mind, but to me there is no difference between a key a button and that is the way for many users. Now that you are thinking more clearly, do you really think the power button should be immediate? There are so many reasons for it not to be. Driving down the interstate at 70mph and your kid pokes it. That would be bad.

 

With all due respect, I don't think that most drivers, even those in their 20's, think of their automobile as driving a computer (although that may be true). My gut feeling is that it would not be obvious to the majority of drivers to push in the power button and hold it.

Keith

 

Anything with a power button, not necessarily a computer. I have a postage scale that you press the power button for a few seconds to turn it off. I have a digital timer (for kitchen cooking) that requires the same treatment for on off. My oven's cancel for the probe setting requires a press and hold.

I would consider the Prius more of a computer than a vehicle, but that I do not expect most to agree with. But anything that has a power button and not a switch, there is almost always a press and hold for power off.

 

Yes, but having car programmed automatically to shut off once it's tilted at a certain angle is not a good solution either. Suppose you flip on your side and skid for a while then land right back up and the power is now off by default, how are you going to move out of the way of oncoming traffic fast enough before they hit you head on? Huge potential problems either way, but you at least have the ability to shut off the engine if you know what to do.

 

You turn your computer off in an emergency by pushing and holding the power button. That's probably what Toyota had in mind. My FFH has a KEY and nobody has problems with that. Technology advancements aren't always as great as first imagined. Do you realize that if that Lexus with the jammed floor mat had had a key, the whole acceleration issue might never have mushroomed as it did. It could be argued that that cost Toyota BILLIONS!

 

I just saw your report on NHTSA.gov. Took me a while to find it. NHTSA did a good job making it hard to find the complaints on their website.

Just one sentence with no explanation. Doubt will attract much attention. Especially since there are 1756 complaints against 2010 Prius. Some very dramatic with unintended accelerations and injuries (are they all user errors? not sure what to think).

In my opinion, the engine should turn off automatically in such accident and the push key start should be option and not default equipment. My wife refuses to drive my Prius as the controls make her uncomfortable to operate it.

 

Another alternative that probably would've worked; holding the brakes to make the wheels stop spinning (due to the engine's idling, presumably), then just a press of the power button should work. Or if they were spinning at less than 8 or 10 mph, pressing park might've stopped them as well (or at least put it into neutral).

That said, there's this handy MFD that displays all sorts of helpful information... (Like "Key detected in vehicle" when the hatch isn't fully latched. Well, OK, that's a bad example.) So when you're moving and you press the power button, a notice like "Stop car to power off. Hold button for emergency shutoff." would probably be a good idea. Especially if there's 2 or 3 button presses in a short time, although I think at least one manufacturer may specifically detect that as the driver being in a panic and shut the car off anyway.

 

How about a traditional key? If you're in an accident you turn it off. To start the car you turn the key on and if you leave the car you take the keys with you.

I love the keyless entry system most times, but every once in a while I do think the traditional key makes more sense.