[Mgs] Re. Brake Failure, now Left foot/Right Foot Braking

[Simon Matthews]

On Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 1:02 AM, Paul Hunt <paul.hunt1 at blueyonder.co.uk>
wrote:
> The most recent thing I have read on the subject
> is that Toyota claim from the analysis of a number of 'black boxes'
> recovered from crashed cars (!), that the drivers didn't brake at all.
 That
> beggars belief, and even the company putting it out as a cause is almost
> believable, in that they expect us to believe it.

As I understand it, there is precisely ONE laptop that runs some
closed source software from Toyota and interrogates the black boxes.
And yet, people apparently think that laptop gives a definitive
answer.

There is also the question that, if one assumes that the on-board
computers have a fault, why would one assume that the same computers
would record the unintended acceleration?

What I don't understand is why is there no analysis of the braking
systems? If people had been standing on the brakes while the cars
continue to accelerate, the brake pads would show signs of being
overheated.

Finally,  there was at least once case where a policeman followed a
car that the driver claimed was out of control. The Priuses cut the
engine if the brake pedal is depressed, so the driver can't fake
unintended acceleration. Surely the policeman would have noticed the
lack of brake lights?

Simon