How to Stop a Runaway Car (or a Stuck Accelerator)

If you’re confused about what to do with your recalled Toyota, you’re not alone.  First, Ray LaHood, the US transportation secretary, tells reporters that owners should “stop driving” Toyota vehicles with sticky accelerators.  After more than dozen reported fatalities linked to sticky accelerators, that sounds like a perfectly sensible survival strategy.  Later, LaHood revises his comments – “obviously a misstatement” – and says that drivers should take their vehicles to the dealer to be repaired.

While everyone, especially Toyota, figures out what to do with millions of recalled vehicles, what should you do if your car suddenly accelerates? And if you don’t drive a Toyota, what should you do if your throttle gets stuck (because of a loose floor mat or a water bottle?).

Experts say first and foremost: try to stay calm.

Next, take the following three steps:

Consumer Reports says that pumping brakes at full throttle “can make a bad problem even worse.”  Power brakes rely on engine vacuum to provide additional brake pressure, CR says.  “At full throttle, the engine doesn’t generate any vacuum," CR explains.  "So as soon as we removed and reapplied pressure to the brake pedal, the power assist disappeared and stopping the car became hopeless."

“There was no way I could push hard enough on the brakes to slow the car down when the engine was fighting me,” said Sr. Automotive Engineer Jake Fisher.

2.    Shift into neutral and steer safely to the side of the road.
Even though the car will rev up in neutral, don’t worry.  Most late model cars have engine speed limiters to prevent damage.  Also, don’t worry if you put the car in reverse, the engine will either stall or behave like it’s in neutral.

3.    Don’t turn off the engine.  If you shut down the car, you could lose power steering and braking, making the car more difficult to control.  Also, if you turn the key too far, you could accidentally lock the steering and you won’t be able to control the car.

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