Unintended Acceleration -- While Parking

Pepsi had one surveillance video?

So did Toyota. One of the run-away Prius crashes (NY babysitter? or another about the same time, shortly after Sikes) was caught on a nearby store's video, showing that the brake lights turned on only after the crash. This contradicted driver and eyewitness testimony, but backed up the EDR.

 

I remembered wrong, it was a Camry, which was the model being blamed for a plurality of deaths from Toyota's 'problems' last year.

It was here. Fast forward to post #8, unfortunately the original has expired.
So, try these instead:

WSJ: Early Tests Pin Toyota Accidents on Drivers

Wisconsin Camry Crash Driver Error (UPDATED 5:25 PM PDT With Surveillance Video Link)

Toyota Slams Into YMCA: Police Say Security Video Is Proof Of Operator Error, Not Faulty Toyota

Wis. Woman Claims Her Toyota Accelerated, Causing Crash

 

The negative is you're asking all auto makers (not just Toyota) and consumers to pay for something that likely won't yield any new information than what is already provided by current means. You personally can't accept evidence as currently presented, therefore think another layer of monitoring is needed. Every instance where video evidence is available, it supports the fact that the driver was in error, not the vehicle. But people can still doubt video evidence if it doens't support what they believe. There are people today who don't believe we landed on the moon, or the holocaust never occurred. Some people can just make up whatever they want to believe, and then say evidence to the contrary was altered, contrived, or completely faked. The 76 yr old lady who crashed her Camry into the Y, assuming her accident wasn't premeditated, most likely still thinks she was standing on the brakes when her car drove itself through the parking lot.

 

While that particular video is sufficient proof for you, and for most of the general public, it won't be enough for everyone. Some doubters will claim that the same ghostly computer glitch that caused the acceleration / brake failure will also cause the brake light to not activate, similar to your earlier suggestion that the EDR could fail to detect the true pedal use.

For the camera in footwell, some victims could still claim that the same computer glitch could cause recording or timestamp errors, falsely showing a non-incident time span at the moment of the incident and crash.

Cost/benefit ratio. How many additional lives will be saved per dollar spent, that won't be saved by cheaper methods? Our life saving capacity is already constrained by finite GDP.

 

Whenever this thread shows up in my email notifications an old saying pops into my head...

Making a mountain out of a molehill.......

 

It seemed to me that the majority of the public already accepted the ECU logs in the Sikes case (March 8, 2010), and the EDR in the Harrison NY babysitter case (March 9), without need of video evidence.

By the time of the videotaped Sheboygan crash (Mar 29), the Toyota Panic Bubble had already burst and was mostly deflated, so this new incident drew comparatively little attention even before the video was available.

The fact that you didn't even hear of the video until today, more than nine months after the fact, should be a strong indicator that the bulk of the public and 'mainstream media' had accepted the prior evidence.

 

I think it would be to Toyota's benefit to not have the few fringe folk that believe Sikes as customers. I wouldn't want to do business of any kind with someone like Sikes or EVPV.

 

No I don't think so, but we can agree to disagree. As far as UA making headlines, the topic has had its 15 min of fame. Nothing of substance has been found to support the UA claims so far. Just like a patient who thinks there is something wrong and goes to multiple doctors for second opinions, only to be told there is nothing physically wrong.

 

Granted, video recorders are very useful and helpful in all situations listed above because they're set to record a variety of unknown and unanticipated actions. You're advocating a video camera positioned to record a very specific function and the cost/benefit analysis just doesn't add up.

 

The acceleration is caused by solar flares i tell ya. The magnetic poles will reverse and EMFs will cause mayhem with electronics. Gentleman, get out your tin foil hats.

 

All of these involve public services or the public using your private property. Mandating the use of a camera in your own private property is a completely different situation. Nobody wants to be identified by means of the shoes they're wearing, time of the day and location (i.e. strip club).

 

actually, none of that is 'recent' news.

 

Where are you seeing this:
Nightline?
Lead story of ABC/NBC/CBS Evening News? Multiple nights?
60 Minutes showing actual video of an accelerator pedal moving by itself? (sorry, that was an Audi)
Breaking News!!! with live video from orbiting helicopters?
Live on-scene reporters tripping over each other?
Congressional hearing testimony, live on CSPAN?
U.S. Secretary of Transportation telling people 'don't drive your Toyota'?
Coworker, neighbors, acquaintances asking if you feel safe driving your car?
Parking garages that forbid you from using their facility? (oops, another Audi)
NHTSA complaint totals growing exponentially, more in a few weeks than in a typical year?

Compared to last year, this issue now seems almost dead.

 

I do have some great suggestions:

1. Listen to the people that post here. There seems to be a whole lot of well-read and educated people posting on the Prius. Not too many are concerned.
2. Keep on top of any developments.
3. Make sure you know how to operate any car you drive correctly in all circumstances.
4. But, the best suggestion I have is to just RELAX. You're out of control for no good reason I can think of.