Runaway Cars

[securespark]

There have now been two cases of runaway cars.

In the second, the police made an arrest.

In the first, the manufacturer said they wanted to investigate, but there has been no further reporting on this.

Surely a manufacturer would want to make public their investigation to allay fears that their car was potentially dangerous?

But, as far as I can tell, zip, nada, zilch, nowt....

'I was kidnapped by my runaway electric car' - BBC News

Brian Morrison's MG ZS EV had a malfunction near Glasgow and had to crash into a police van to stop.

www.bbc.co.uk

Man arrested after runaway car stopped on M62 - BBC News

A 31-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and causing a public nuisance.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[IT Minion]

There have now been two cases of runaway cars.

In the second, the police made an arrest.

In the first, the manufacturer said they wanted to investigate, but there has been no further reporting on this.

Surely a manufacturer would want to make public their investigation to allay fears that their car was potentially dangerous?

But, as far as I can tell, zip, nada, zilch, nowt....

'I was kidnapped by my runaway electric car' - BBC News

Brian Morrison's MG ZS EV had a malfunction near Glasgow and had to crash into a police van to stop.

www.bbc.co.uk

Man arrested after runaway car stopped on M62 - BBC News

A 31-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and causing a public nuisance.

www.bbc.co.uk

There's always runaway cars. Normally it's driver error (cans stuck under pedals etc.)

Sometimes it's more systematic, eg factory floor mats that can get stuck.

Once it was bad computer control code. Toyota had some particularly bad stuff that's fairly infamous in IT circles.

It is normal to try not to talk about it as if you have to explain why you're confident your vehicle is not going to drive you into a concrete wall at 110mph you've already lost the sale.

 

[Odds]

Just wait til they fit a car with AI and it complains you're a bad driver...before going 'Christine' on you.

 

[ReganAndCarter]

Most spectacular is the runaway diesel engine when it starts ingesting it's own sump oil. Saw one once and someone was going to try to save it by putting their coat in air intake. However they couldn't get near as the smoke from exhaust was too thick. Nasty, expensive noise when it finally ground to a halt.

 

[JohnD]

It's possible to guard against it by putting a spring loaded flap in the air intake. If the engine runs away the suction is so great that it overcomes the spring and the flap shuts off air.

 

[Odds]

Still not so bad as a runaway train...then you need Denzil Washington to sort it.

 

[norseman]

Most spectacular is the runaway diesel engine when it starts ingesting it's own sump oil. Saw one once and someone was going to try to save it by putting their coat in air intake. However they couldn't get near as the smoke from exhaust was too thick. Nasty, expensive noise when it finally ground to a halt.

The old Commer 2 stroke diesel was infamous for that, if the driver was quick enough he could stick it top gear & stall the thing.

Don't know what today's 'elf 'n safety would advise with regard to remedial action

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Co2 fire extinguisher down the air intake

 

[norseman]

Co2 fire extinguisher down the air intake

Handy if you happen to be in the habit of carrying one around with you.

 

[securespark]

I never go out without one!

 

[Stivino]

Co2 fire extinguisher down the air intake

That's ok if you can open the bonnet and run at the same speed as the "runaway car"

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Handy if you happen to be in the habit of carrying one around with you.

That is the biggest issue

 

[norseman]

That's ok if you can open the bonnet and run at the same speed as the "runaway car"

Engine 'running away' not the car

 

[Stivino]

Engine 'running away' not the car

What is the title of the thread?

 

[JohnD]

There are people who say that "runaway cars" are always where the driver has panicked and is pressing the accelerator thinking it is the brake.

The more scared they are, the harder they press.

More commonly in reverse.