[TR] Off-topic -deadly floormats

[Mark Kearns]

I also live near the site of the accident.  According to the local news
accounts, that particular model has a ignition button that must be depressed
for more than three seconds to shut the engine off, not easy to do, or know
of, in a strange car at 120 MPH.

Why not neutral, no clue.

There was an article in the San Diego Union Tribune (a rag of a paper btw)
from  the head of some auto safety organization who insisted that the floor
mats were not the real cause.  According to him the ignition systems have
become so complex that electromagnetic interference can cause these types of
occurrences.  Since that article came out there have been many accounts from
people reporting unexplained short term bursts of acceleration.

It there is any truth to this, (and not to be a conspiracy theorist), it's
probably cheaper to throw a couple million at next of kin and replace some
carpet,  than to reconfigure the ignition systems of every car sold.