鈥淲E鈥橰E going north on 125 and our accelerator is stuck鈥� We鈥檙e going 120 [mph ]鈥� There鈥檚 no brakes鈥� We鈥檙e approaching the intersection! Hold on! Pray!鈥�
The desperate words are followed by shouts, screams and then silence. The clip, circulating on the internet, is a harrowing excerpt from a 911 emergency call made shortly before the that killed speaker Chris Lastrella and the three others in the car, which accelerated out of control on a highway in San Diego, California, in August 2009. The case is one of the most infamous examples of what has been termed sudden unintended acceleration (SUA).
The Toyota Lexus model Lastrella was in is not one of the models that the world鈥檚 largest car maker has now recalled due to accelerator problems, however. Toyota says the problems that led to the recall are 鈥� floor mats getting stuck in gas pedals, and the wearing of a pedal component that may cause the throttle to stick in an open position.
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鈥淭oyota says that the problems that led to the recall are purely mechanical鈥�
But there is a persistent chorus of voices saying that in some instances the problems are associated with the introduction of electronic rather than mechanical throttle control. Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales, insists: 鈥淚t is not an electronics issue.鈥�
Those assurances have failed to dispel the concerns of people like Keith Armstrong, a UK-based electronic design consultant, currently acting as an expert witness in an SUA court case in Florida, who think that 鈥渄rive-by-wire鈥� systems are prone to SUA problems. 鈥淭here are many cases involving sudden accelerations from standstill,鈥� says Armstrong.
Toyota UK spokesman David Crouch said he was not aware of any reports of sudden acceleration in stationary Toyota cars.
Armstrong says electromagnetic interference (EMI) might be involved in SUA events. 鈥淭he more electronics you have in a vehicle, the more electrical noise you tend to get.鈥� But detecting malfunctions triggered by EMI is extremely hard as such incidents often leave no trace.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has already carried out EMI tests on numerous vehicles, including Toyotas, and found no safety issues. However, last week it said it would launch an investigation into the possible effects of EMI on electronic throttle-control systems.
鈥淎ll our cars are tested for electromagnetic interference,鈥� says Crouch.
