When the Gas Pedal Jams …

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Unless you’ve been bunkered down lately, you will have read/seen/heard the reports of drivers trapped in their cars hurtling down the freeway at God-knows-what-miles-per-hour frantic with fear because the gas pedal is jammed.

I am much puzzled because I haven’t seen/heard/read anyone offering the advice I was given when I learned to drive – TURN OFF THE IGNITION!

Cut the spark to the engine, and while the engine might flood, there’ll be no more power given to the wheels. Whether you like it or not, you’ll slow down.

Of course, you might lose power steering, but for heaven’s sake, if you’re on the highway, how much power steering do you need to move slowly over to the shoulder.

Of course you might lose your power brakes and ABS etc, but for heaven’s sake, if you’re on the highway, how much power braking do you need to do when your main aim is to slow gracefully out of the traffic.

Put on your four-ways, tap the brake pedal to glow the lights, and twenty seconds later you can roll slowly to a flat spot.

I’m not talking here about those 3-second panic situations where something violent happens. I’m not talking about a quiet suburban street (although I was told to steer towards a brick wall, trying to graze it rather than run head-first into it, anything but a tree or a power-pole ).

And my puzzle, remember, is that the news media does NOT offer the advice to turn off the ignition key.

It’s simple and it’s effective, and you live without panic.

Also you don’t have to get the helicopter and squad cars called out the way they do when you dial 911-emergency.

In fact, a jammed gas-pedal is not a news item if you deal with it effectively.

Which is probably why the media aren’t handing out good advice.

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