Autoblog

Toyota developing new pre-crash braking aids

Zach Bowman — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 13:34:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Technology, Toyota, Luxury

Automotive News Europe reports that Toyota is set to debut a pair of pre-crash safety systems. The company hopes the tech will help reduce the likelihood of high-speed crashes and accidents caused by pedal misapplication. One of the systems uses millimeter-wave radar to calculate the risk of a collision. Like the Volvo City Safety technology, when the vehicle senses an impending crash, it alerts the driver with both audio and visual cues. A new brake booster can then be activated to help deliver twice the braking force typically available.

Toyota also hopes to prevent parking collisions with an additional automatic braking system. Using sonar, the vehicle can detect whether the car is approaching a stationary obstacle too quickly and apply the brakes as necessary. It also features a fail-safe that will automatically slow the vehicle if the driver shifts gears while the accelerator is applied or "abnormal shifting" is detected.

Word has it the manufacturer will debut the tech on a "high-end Toyota-brand sedan," but specifics beyond that are not known.

Toyota developing new pre-crash braking aids originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Nov 2012 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota introduces new technologies to curb unintended acceleration

Chris Tutor — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Toyota

In recent years, Toyota vehicles have been involved in a number high-profile accidents blamed on "unintended acceleration." And whether the root cause of these incidents boils down to driver error or faulty mechanicals, Toyota is working to address the issue.

One of two new systems in development at Toyota goes by the name of Intelligent Clearance Sonar. The technology is meant to reduce parking lot collisions by detecting objects out of the driver's sight. If an imminent collision is detected, the ICS system will automatically hit the brakes, reduce engine power and sound an alarm.

Toyota's other new safety system is Drive-Start Control. According to the automaker, if the system senses that the wrong gear has been selected from Park while the driver is pressing on the accelerator, a warning is flashed on the dashboard and engine output is reduced "to limit a sudden start or acceleration." There are a number of scenarios where the system might kick in - for example, if a driver bumps into something while reversing, panics and shifts into a forward gear without letting up on the accelerator, DSC would take over.

While such research is commendable, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has called for making such systems mandatory in coming years. And more and more automakers are investigating and/or committing to developing electronic failsafes to deal with unintended acceleration. Last month, Nissan announced a camera-based system designed to curb pedal misapplication.

Toyota says the systems will be available on future vehicles soon, a development that could give it a leg up on the competition if/when new federal rules are approved. Check out the official press release below.

Continue reading Toyota introduces new technologies to curb unintended acceleration

Toyota introduces new technologies to curb unintended acceleration originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nissan reveals camera-guided pedal misapplication prevention technology [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Safety, Technology, Nissan

Nissan has created a new system to help reduce the likelihood of pedal misapplication. Called the Emergency Assist for Pedal Misapplication with Carpark Detection Function (catchy, huh?), the technology uses a version of the company's ingenious Around View monitor to detect if the vehicle is in a parking space. If so and there are solid object such as other vehicles or walls near by, the vehicle's cameras will automatically control acceleration and apply the brakes to prevent a collision if inappropriate throttle use is detected. Nissan showed a similar - and presumably related - technology last year dubbed Acceleration Suppression For Pedal Misapplication, but the Elgrand figures to be the first production application of this unintended-acceleration-combating technology. Currently, the technology is slated to debut on an updated version of the Nissan Elgrand minivan in Japan.

We wouldn't be surprised to see the system show up in other markets and on other members of the family soon, including the company's gadget-happy Infiniti line. Nissan says Emergency Assist for Pedal Misapplication is part of the company's Vision Zero goal, which aims to reduce traffic deaths by countering threats at every stage of a potential accident. For more information, scroll down to watch a video showing Acceleration Suppression For Pedal Misapplication in action, and while you're there, check out the press release.

Continue reading Nissan reveals camera-guided pedal misapplication prevention technology [w/video]

Nissan reveals camera-guided pedal misapplication prevention technology [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Older women, people under 20 are most often at fault for pedal misapplication crashes

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

We hate to reinforce stereotypes as much as anybody else, so we'd like to point out that the source for this story comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. With that out of the way...

According to TheDetroitBureau.com, the recent study found that older women and people under the age of 20 are most likely to mistake the gas pedal for the brake, causing what many have dubbed unintended acceleration. What's more, the majority of pedal misapplication cases take place in parking lots.

In stark contrast, NHTSA has found that nearly two-thirds of all motor vehicle accidents are caused by male drivers. So, why are women so much more likely to mistake their pedals? Says the study:

"Possible explanations might include greater exposure by women where these crashes occur most often (parking lots); a poorer "fit" in their cars due to shorter stature, which may increase the likelihood of a pedal application error; or a disproportionately high rate of one or more functional deficits that contribute to pedal errors, such as neuropathy."

Due to the recent abundance of unintended acceleration claims, NHTSA has proposed that brake override systems be made mandatory on all new cars sold in the United States.

Older women, people under 20 are most often at fault for pedal misapplication crashes originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Camry crash in Utah puts attention back on Toyota recalls

Zach Bowman — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Toyota

Paul Vanalfen's crashed Toyota Camry - Click above for high-res image gallery

A new incident involving a 2008 Toyota Camry is raising concerns about unintended acceleration once again. On November 5, 66-year-old Paul Vanalfen was exiting Interstate 80 in Utah when his vehicle drove through a stop sign and struck a rock embankment, killing Vanalfen and his son's 38 year-old fiance Charlene Lloyd at the same time. Vanalfen's son and wife were also injured in the accident. Early reports indicate that the Camry may have continued to accelerate, even as Vanalfen did his best to stop the vehicle. Skid marks at the scene indicate that this isn't a case of pedal misapplication, leaving investigators to conclude that a malfunction may have caused the incident.

Vanalfen's Camry was the subject of a total of three recalls, and at this point, it's unclear whether or not the Toyota had undergone the repairs.

Toyota, meanwhile, says that it's too early to draw any conclusions about the cause of the incident, and that it's assisting Utah Highway Patrol investigators any way it can. Click past the jump to read the company's statement.

Gallery: Paul Vanalfen's crashed Toyota Camry

[Sources: AP via MSNBC, Toyota | Image: AP/Utah Highway Patrol]

Continue reading Camry crash in Utah puts attention back on Toyota recalls

Camry crash in Utah puts attention back on Toyota recalls originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Man convicted in fatal crash set free with Toyota sudden acceleration appeal

Zach Bowman — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Government/Legal, Toyota

Koua Fong Lee, the man who was convicted in 2006 of killing three people when his Toyota Camry struck a vehicle at a stoplight, has been acquitted of any crime. Lee served a total of two-and-a-half years in prison after his defense attorney failed to adequately show that he had been applying the brake on his vehicle the whole time. In the wake of a number of unintended acceleration claims on similar Toyota vehicles and increasing outcry for his release (including a big ABC News feature), Lee's case was reopened. In four days of testimony, his new counsel had a series of drivers who had experience unintended acceleration in their Toyotas take the stand. Eventually, the ~~presiding judge heard enough and released Lee~~ prosecutor dropped the charges against Lee.

Lee served two-and-a-half years of an eight-year sentence for vehicular homicide after his first attorney actually suggested to the jury that Lee could have mistaken the accelerator for the brake pedal. Combined with the defendant's limited English and the fact that few people had heard of unintended acceleration at the time of the first trail, the judge sentenced Lee to the maximum penalty under the law. Now that he's been released, Lee says that he'll focus on getting to know the youngest of his four children. Thanks for the tip, Brian!

[Source: AOL Autos | Image: Ben Garvin/Associated Press]

Report: Man convicted in fatal crash set free with Toyota sudden acceleration appeal originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Feds block Toyota 'unintended acceleration' doc release

Zach Bowman — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 15:25:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Toyota

A new report from the The Wall Street Journal claims that the Department of Transportation is blocking the release of National Highway Transportation Safety Administration findings on the Toyota unintended acceleration issues. According to the article, NHTSA has compiled all the relevant information and written a report on its findings, but George Pearson, the former head of the agency's recall division, says that he was told that the Transportation Department doesn't want the information released. Why? Pearson didn't say, but the Journal seems to think that the information could add fuel to the argument that NHTSA is too close to automakers.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Department says that the report is incomplete, and that it will take more time to properly review all of the data associated with the issue. Pearson, on the other hand, claims that the report shows that in the majority of unintended acceleration cases, the vehicle's black boxes clearly indicated that the accelerator was depressed and the brake pedal was not. That means that the cases could be chalked up to driver error - something that would serve to vindicate Toyota. Thanks for the tip, MKIV!

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Report: Feds block Toyota 'unintended acceleration' doc release originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Followup: Toyota 'strongly objects' to NHTSA allegations it planted story in WSJ

Zach Bowman — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Recalls, Safety, Toyota

Toyota has officially spoken out against allegations that it planted a story in The Wall Street Journal that attributed the majority of the company's unintended acceleration woes to driver error rather than entrapped floor mats or faulty software. The Japanese company's American arm emailed a statement to Just-Auto saying that no one within Toyota has any access to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's research, and that no one in the government agency had reported any findings to the automaker.

As you may recall, The Wall Street Journal article cited "people familiar with" the NHTSA's research on the Toyota unintended acceleration problem. It wasn't long before fingers began pointing back at Toyota for supposedly planting the story with the WSJ. Just-Auto originally cited a spokesperson with the NHTSA who said that the information that the publication used came from Toyota.

In its defense, Toyota has said that any reports that claim that the company planted a news story are absolutely false. In its independent research, Toyota has found a number of causes of unintended acceleration, one of which happens to be "pedal misapplication." For those of us that don't speak corporate, that would be driver error. Whether that means that someone at the The Wall Street Journal managed to get their sources crossed or whether the NHTSA is simply trying to cover its bases after leaking otherwise confidential information remains to be seen.

[Source: Just-Auto | Image: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty]

Followup: Toyota 'strongly objects' to NHTSA allegations it planted story in WSJ originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

BREAKING: WSJ says crash data points to pedal misapplication in Toyota sudden acceleration cases

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:26:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Lexus, Toyota

After receiving more than 3,000 reports of sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles, the U.S. Department of Transportation has concluded that driver error was actually at fault. According to The Wall Street Journal, investigators analyzing different data recorders from Toyota vehicles found that at the time of these sudden acceleration crashes, the throttles were wide open rather and the brakes were not depressed. Thus, they have reason to believe that drivers were mistakenly stomping on the accelerator rather than slamming the brakes in an attempt to avoid these crashes.

Of the 75 fatal crashes blamed on sudden acceleration, only one incident has actually been verified as being caused by vehicle fault - the Lexus ES350 accident that killed a California highway patrolman and three other passengers last August. Even so, this case was chalked up as an incident where the floor mat trapped the gas pedal, which Toyota quickly issued a recall for.

The WSJ also reports that U.S. Transportation Department officials have stated publicly that they have yet to find any electronic glitches in Toyota vehicles that could lead to these crashes. The only defects proven to be true are those that have been outlined by Toyota itself - floor mats and sticky accelerator pedals that are slow to return to idle.

So while Toyota may not have been at fault in these sudden acceleration cases, the automaker's image has indeed been seriously tarnished over the past few months. Over eight million Toyota vehicles have been recalled worldwide - a large blemish in automotive history, and it appears that much of the hand-wringing may have been for naught. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

[Source: The Wall Street Journal | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

BREAKING: WSJ says crash data points to pedal misapplication in Toyota sudden acceleration cases originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

'Unintended acceleration' allegations leveled against Jeep Grand Cherokee

Chris Paukert — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 07:03:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Audi, Jeep

In word that must have long-time Audi executives reaching for their Maalox by association, Connecticut officials are urging federal regulators to investigate allegations of 'unintended acceleration' in late-model Jeep Grand Cherokees.

The call comes after a 52-year-old man was run over and killed in a car wash in the state. In fact, the hubbub seems to be that something in that particular environment appears to make these episodes more likely - Connecticut bigwigs have logged a number of complaints about the vehicles suddenly picking up speed when drivers move the automatic transmission from 'neutral' to 'drive' while in car washes.

Car buffs may recall Audi's bout with 'unintended acceleration' way back in 1986, when news program 60 Minutes demonized the company's 5000 model sedan. The company's reputation and sales tanked, taking more than fifteen years to rebound. In that case, the syndrome was later judged to be the result of operator pedal misapplication.

If we had to put money on it, we'd be just as quick to cite wet shoes and slippery pedals.

[Source: CNNMoney.com]

'Unintended acceleration' allegations leveled against Jeep Grand Cherokee originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jun 2006 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments