Forum:
Car is 02 reg, 1300cc, 60,000 miles. In a public car park, car was halted untidily relative to parking bay. Intended to move car forward 2 to 3 feet to line up with white line. Started engne, put lever in D, suddenly car accelerated forward at full revs. Panicked, had to turn steering anti-clockwise to avoid driving into wall to front. Trying to get foot on brake while continuing to turn in circle with full lock at full revs. Foot on brake and car skids to halt almost exactly in same place started from with tyres almost smoking. These are events described to me by the driver, sober 77 years age. During the turning circle, the front right wing hit the rear of a parked with resulting damage to both cars. Not serious to the parked car. When I tried to move the Sirion it started normally but the steering, suspension and transmission all felt 'wrong'. Car was parked until taken away to repair garage under insurance claim. The driver cannot say with certainty that he did not put his foot on the 'gas' pedal, but it would make no sense given that the tick-over would have moved the car to where he wanted to park it.
Has anyone had similar experience with this model of car. Does the Sirion have any sort of reputation for going out of control?
Thanks for any interest.
Sorry to say, But to me this
Sorry to say, But to me this sounds like driver error, seems a more common problem than is reported with elderly drivers and automatics. I witnessed a similar event at a petrol station a few years ago.
If the throttle had physically stuck open on its own then it would have revved back up when it was restarted.
wouldnt be the first time
wouldnt be the first time heard or seen that one from elderly people who in my opinion shouldnt drive on our busy roads anymore, its far too populated these days.
Full of ideas but no time to do them!!
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It's possible the floor mat
It's possible the floor mat could have got jammed over the pedal - happened to me once. As far as I know the Sirion has a cable operated throttle - not a fly by wire, so electrical malfunction/unwanted full throttle can be ruled out - unless the cable stuck; although unlikely. (A BMW once got stuck on full throttle on a motorway at 140 mph.......)
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2004 Yellow YRV Turbo
Re: Wouldn't be the First Time
Submitted by If theres mud i... on Sat, 16/07/2011 - 19:48.
"wouldnt be the first time heard or seen that one from elderly people who in my opinion shouldnt drive on our busy roads anymore, its far too populated these days."
I am sure that many of my fellow septuagenarians would find your comments both patronising and offensive. In my experience, young people (particularly males) are far more likely to be involved in a road traffic incident, where they are the prime cause.
(Ex police vehicle examiner, with 55 years driving experience of all types of motor vehicle)
Here here!
Here, here!
YRV Tony
a
a
AGE CONCERN
whoa whoa Im young and male and my driving is spot on,however when I hear "old people" "automatic" and "crash" only one answer Im afraid,a bit offensive Ill admit but dont dgrade my age group as well!And in nearly all cases where I live old people and automatics are always going through shop windows where they put thier foot on the throttle and not the brake.Ive never heard of any sirion box going a bit mad like that.
Calm down please! Yes, some
Calm down please! Yes, some elderly people should not be on the road, we had to persuade my Nan to surrender her licence! But nor should some younger drivers who think they can drive at 17 years old.......driving qualities come with experience. I have been driving 17 years and I drive for a living and have completed an advanced driving course but I am still learning. Just because someone has a licence doesn't mean they can actually drive!
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2004 Yellow YRV Turbo
Re: Age Concern
I did state, "In my experience(ie PERSONAL EXPERIENCE), young people (particularly males) are far more likely to be involved in a road traffic incident, where they are the prime cause.". My assertion was affirmed in a study by the Institute of Advanced Motorists- "Analysis of seven years of crash data reveals that drivers over the age of 70 were involved in 4 per cent of crashes that caused injury even though they represented 8 per cent of drivers. Teenagers and drivers in their twenties, 15 per cent of all drivers, were involved in 34 per cent of crashes that resulted in injury"
It is never wise to tar everyone with the same brush, young or old. Just as experience, like age, results in an accumulation of knowledge, it doesn't necessarily teach wisdom. In fact, I suspect that some of our local old fogies behind the wheel today, are the very same people I booked for careless driving (or whatever) during their youth. in other words, once an idiot,... etc. etc!
Likewise, whilst driver error may be a convenient way of explaining an unusual occurrence, 'unexplainable' incidents have a habit of cropping up in the motoring world. BBC's Watchdog for instance, has cited numerous alarming symptoms, affecting the safety of a variety of cars (including some very upmarket models), whilst Private Eye magazine ran a campaign some years ago, drawing attention to the tendency of some London buses to 'take off' spontaneously. This too had been put down to driver error.
Many thanks for the
Many thanks for the interesting and varied replies to my query. Just to provide closure to the story I will recount the outcome. The car was declared BER (beyond economical repair) by the garage and the insurers have offered a not bad price. The driver, my elder brother has, reluctantly accepted that it must have been his fault as the garage could find no mechanical cause. The other car involved has been covered by the insurance without rancour.
My thanks especially to those keeping an open mind on the elder driver, (doesn't apply to me, I'm only 73!) and let's not lose sight of the fact that even the 'young turks' among the driving fraternity will one day have to face these problems--if they live long enough!
best wishes to all.
eldib