Toyota Recalls Prevent Darwinism
Posted at 5:51 PM / January 28, 2010
We are introducing our editorial rants and raves as a new feature on PlanetLSX, and hereby declare the new feature name to be "Grinding Gears". Our editorial staff will write about automotive related things from time to time, sometimes with humor (we hope) and sometimes to stir up some controversial subjects. Lets get started with our first tidbit of soapbox mayhem.
Grinding Gears Jan 28, 2010
Toyota. Lately, it seems we cannot make it through a full day without hearing the latest bad news about the Toyota camp. There were initial recalls related to a supply of accelerator pedals being faulty, which could cause them to stick at wide-open-throttle without warning. Early on, Toyota drafted up the silly excuse to blame the floor mats for giving passengers the extra dose of go-go juice. Then a few more accidents happened, and a more stringent review of the problem was kicked off. Toyota now has a negative spotlight cast on themselves, arguably for the first time since...well, forever. Quality be damned, it seemed for years that Toyota was the silent ninja-assassin that was slowly killing off the Big Three in their own country. Now that they have shown losses in sales for the first time, and are facing a recall of millions of vehicles, we are shown yet another example of how powerful giants can still fall down sometimes.
But, the downfall of Toyota isn't my rant here. I'm also not going to rant about quality comparisons between domestic and import vehicles. I'm here to rant about how Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection is getting the raw deal here. You know the theory, only the strongest/smartest survive and all that, proven to be pretty accurate in the world outside of human beings. Humans have learned to bend Darwin's theories, by creating rules to save idiots from themselves.
Like any other member of society that holds a Drivers License, I was taught how to handle situations like the throttle sticking open. It was part of my driver education class, and I still remember the lectures from over 20 years ago. I still remember being told what to do in that exact circumstance. I suppose it is a good idea to learn and store away useful information that could potentially save your own life. Or, it could have been the fear of having to ride the school bus for another year if I missed that question on the test. What was this revelation of wisdom?
Shift to neutral, or turn off the ignition.
So simple, I'd even venture to say that someone with half a dose of common sense could probably figure that out, without the course I studied. When you are cruising in your Toyota, and the throttle pedal decides to go rogue on you, and forces you to feel the fury of 200 hp as it unleashes...low triple-digit speeds, simply disconnect the power! It is awful that dozens of people have killed themselves and others for not remembering a key turns two ways, or that transmissions can be shifted.
I have an attraction to playing with deadly equipment, it seems. When I first learned how to shoot a gun, I learned about safe loading and unloading it, safety mechanisms and such. When I've learned to operate dangerous machines and equipment, I also was taught about safety measures and plans. If you have a drivers license to operate 2-ton hunk of steel that can go 100+ mph, you are in charge of a deadly piece of machinery. Learn how to operate it safely. Know how to defuse the risks.
Frankly, I'd rather not have drivers who can't understand that simple procedure driving next to me and my family. So, un-thank you Toyota, for not allowing Darwinism to play out as nature intended.
The Editor has experienced the horrific event of having a throttle stick open a couple times in his life, and has lived to tell about them. He is proud to be a survivor.
