You need to bring up this subject with those you care about, I was shocked.

My wife drives a Lexus, we were on the interstate discussing the Toyota recall and that her car was not included (yet). I asked what she would do if it did suddenly accelerate and she said brake. I asked her about putting the gearshift in Neutral and she was dumbfounded. She asked what would happen if she did that. I explained about disengaging the engine from the wheels via the transmission and since I was driving about 65mpg I calmly shifted into neutral to demonstrate.
I realize that this was not taught in Driver's Ed and it was my bad for just assuming she knew this.

So, last night I'm watching CNN as they interview the runaway Prius driver in CA.
He was asked if he shifted into Neutral, response "No."
He did have a 2 minute phone conversation with the 911 operator though.

So I'm at lunch today, seven people at the table and the Toyota subject comes up. Three women state they did not know about shifting into Neutral. One suggested the car might flip over.
A couple of people were silent, I don't know what they know or didn't know.
Only one guy speaks up and says, "It's a guy thing, most people just don't know."

Another point to bring up in conversation, shifters on floor have a release button for gear selection.
Do Not Press the Button. Just bang the **** from 'D' to 'N'
This will prevent accidental movement to 'R' or 'P'

Likewise, if some is driving a column mounted gearshift such as in our trucks.
Do Not Pull the Lever Toward You Just bang it up on click, for the same reason above.

I've read comments elsewhere suggesting 'natural selection' but, these may be people you actually care about.

 

Don't know if this is fact, but have read that if it is running wide open, it will not let you shift to neutral in order to protect the engine. I also wonder if you can turn the key off if it is in gear?

 

I THINK THE neautral thing should be highly taught i think everyone should know that weather they dirve a toyota or they drive a hummer it is just a really good thing to use

 

People are so dumb.

 

Years ago on the interstate my hand slipped and I accidentally turned my 2002 GMC Sierra off with the key while going 70. It will actually do it while in drive.

Months ago I made a specific trip to my neighbors house to make sure he knew about the Toyota thing and that his new Tundra is included for his safety.

 

I thought I saw in an interview last night that he (the Prius driver in CA) did try to shift his car into neutral, as instructed by the 911 operator, but it would not\could not go.

Either way, it is good to pass this knowledge on to any unfortunate Toyota drivers. I actually commute in a Toyota myself, but it's a 1996 with 185k miles on it.

 

That is the first thing I thought about when this stories hit the news. Just simply put the transmission in Neutral, and turn the key off (if possible). That way your still free-rolling, but your engine is no longer doing anything.

I also talked with a buddy (fast150 on here) and he said his uncle now works as a Toyota mechanic. Apparently Toyota has some issues. Instead of the fail safe switching the throttle off (closed) it goes the opposite direction, and opens it wide!

And Toyota just keeps digging themselves a deeper and deeper hole, but people who have no part in any sudden acceleration accident are also trying to milk them for all their worth, which is very unethical of them.

 

the prius doesnt have a gearshift lever like a normal car, it has a little joystick on the dash and its all electronic and will not allow neutral to be selected above a certain MPH. but for other instances in other vehicles i agree 100% with you about shifting into neutral. i actually had the same conversation with my wife the other night and i asked her what she would do if her throttle stuck and the thought to put it in neutral never crossed her mind. its scary how many people just dont think about that kind of stuff. IMO its your responsibility as a vehicle operator to know how to safetly handle it in an emergency situation.

 

I did his in my 2005 Dakota that I had before my F150. Just had to work a little harder to make the steering and brakes work until I could get it into neutral to restart the engine.

 

We were able to avoid being recalled (and sudden acceleration) by NOT BUYING A DAMN TOYOTA. So far, it has worked.

 

gay

 

I though that it was common sense that tells us that if a vehicle is having an issue like uncontrolled acceleration, putting the vehicle in neutral would solve the problem?! Who cares if you blow the engine? It's better than killing yourself or others. When I saw the news about this guy who drove for more than twenty minutes, while being involved in a cell phone conversation with the police, with an uncontrolled acceleration situation, I though he must have some serious mental issues.

My wife drives a manual shift, and I convinced her to get the Mazda 3 instead of the Toyota Matrix. She's all set.

I used to have to drive junkers all of the time. There were many occasions where I had to put a vehicle into neutral, or some other evasive manuver because of a malfunction.

My mom drives a Prius. I'll have to ask her if I can try out the car to see if it can be put into neutral.

Toyota's got problems all right. It just seems suspicious how all of this stuff is happening at once. Are GM sales being helped but Toyotas problems?

 

Yes, GM sales went up like 30 some percent I do believe.

I'm gonna have to see if my mom will let me take her Camry for a quick drive to see if it'll go in Neutral or shut it off.

 

Anyone remeber when Audi had this issue? I guess when you'de put the car in gear it would take off. I remember hearing about a lady who ran over her kid that was opening the garage door for her.

When I was a kid my brother had a Chevy Spectrum that would go full throttle sometimes when it was started cold. It did it a few times after it was put in gear. I guess my brother new about the neutral trick though. I believe that car was made by Toyota. That was more than twenty years ago, but the media might want to bring it up now, in case there is any one left in this country who trusts Toyota vehicles anymore.

 

If one or both of you guys never return to this forum, it will be assumed that the accelerator stuck on the cars.