why dont they just put it in Nuetral?

firemanpat2910 · Mar 9, 2010

After watching, reading and hearing about all these people that are in runaway cars, that get on cell phones, call 911, ect. when the car reaches what I consider fast hwy speed

every one says they pushed on the brakes, or used the "EMERGENCY" brake.. My truck doesnt even have one of those, just a parking brake. Why dont they just shift to nuetral?? you dont loose power steering, power brakes or even power windows

like you would if you turned the ignition off. Seriously, I have never and hope to never set foot in a hybrid, are they set up the same as a real car?
P. R. N. D. 2. 1. ? dropping in in N might cause engine damage, but sure beats a crash.

bp fick · Mar 9, 2010

Had an interesting conversation this past weekend with my two grown sons on this very topic. Here's my take, FWIW. Neutral doesn't exist in the recesses of the modern driver's mind. It simply isn't instinctive to them anymore. What's a neutral? The manual transmission driver of cars, trucks, tractors and equipment of days gone by absolutely think in terms of neutral, but the modern, "never have driven a stick" type of driver (now likely the majority, by far) simply do not relate or conceive of it.

They have never, ever, used neutral. Park? Reverse? Drive? but never neutral. They simply pass right through it on their way to the 3 positions they do relate to. That's my story and I am stickin' to it.

A manual driver, however, totally "gets" neutral, both in the shifter stick and with his foot, the clutch. That is his/her instinct. No gear/stick driver would ever likely get caught off guard by a run-a-way throttle. Entirely different. The automatic mentality is "Park" which, of course, never occurs until stopped, and THE BRAKE!!! Push that brake all you want and you cannot overcome a racing, full throttle engine with momentum of the weight of the car.

brin · Mar 9, 2010

I agree...amazing they don't think of it...put it in neutral...hit the brake and steer to the curb and turn off the ignition....and the one accident with 4 deaths it was a Toyota driven by a Calf. Hwy. Patrol officer and he called 911...go figure...????

MikePA · Mar 9, 2010

The CHP reported what got the guy slowed down to 50 mph was a combination of the emergency brake and the brake. I don't understand that either.

carpenter383 · Mar 9, 2010

I agree it should be a no-brainer to shift the trans into neutral. The only thing I can figure is maybe the car's are set up so that neutral is "locked out" while the car is traveling?

carpenter383 · Mar 9, 2010

I wonder how many toyota owners will use the pedal sticking as an excuse for speeding?

beenthere · Mar 9, 2010

And we all should know what happens when putting the car in neutral. If not, give it a test today while thinking about it. I understand now that there is a top rpm limiter (before the engine blows).

Also, shut off the ignition and see what control there is left. Certainly better, IMO, than accelerating down the highway.

Too many people driving cars that haven't the foggiest notion what is under the hood or at their fingertips. And no amount of talking or passing rules/laws is gonna change it either.

There are people who think that a car won't start unless it is in Park. Don't realize that it can be started in Neutral.

BobRip · Mar 9, 2010

There have been reports that at least some people have put the cars in neutral and it did not help. Maybe the computer is controlling (actually not controlling) the gear shift as well. If it is ignoring the gas pedal, it may ignore the gear shift. Not a complete explanation, but something if going on that nobody understands.

dodge man · Mar 9, 2010

The answer is panic. People don't think about it. When I got married my wife had a late 1980's Grand Am. I had the cruise control stick on the car, it basically wouldn't turn off and it went to full throttle. I slipped it into nuetral, but for a second it scared me. While in nuetral, the engine would rev up against the rev limiter, then back down, over and over until I got pulled over and stopped.

As far a newer vehicles not shifting into nuetral, I would hope that is not the case. Have you ever been going say 60 miles an hour and try to shift into first gear? On modern vehicles the computer realizes its a mistake and won't try to do it until you slow down. Maybe it does the same thing if you slip it into nuetral at full throttle?

Travelover · Mar 9, 2010

BobRip said:
There have been reports that at least some people have put the cars in neutral and it did not help. Maybe the computer is controlling (actually not controlling) the gear shift as well. If it is ignoring the gas pedal, it may ignore the gear shift. Not a complete explanation, but something if going on that nobody understands.

Right. Some electronically controlled transmissions have a computer over ride. For example on my Escape hybrid, I can put it into reverse at any speed and it will simply stay in drive until I come to a stop, then it will go into reverse.