Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

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My first thought was to simply switch of the engine - but keep the key in so the steering lock would not engage....

What would you have done?

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

I reckon it was just a typical BMW driver fancying a good speeding session without hassle from those pesky police :D

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

...and what if BMW come back with a result of NFF....will the police nick him? :D

---------- Post added at 21:05 ---------- Previous post was at 21:00 ----------

Just found another version of the story.


You what? Slightly heavier steering than normal OR 135mph into a back of a lorry...I know which option I'd go for...

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Switching off the ignition might have disabled various other features, such as power steering and ABS. Modern cars for you - run on electrics. I've have put my foot down. Given that the brakes, gears and accelerator had gone, pretty much only the engine left, so flogging it might cause it to explode.

---------- Post added at 21:06 ---------- Previous post was at 21:06 ----------

No power steering is bad - it's worse than no power steering.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

It's a Beemer though - engines like that can usually take a good wellying.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

With the miles on the clock it had, it had taken a wellying :D Might have been one welly too far, was my thinking. Mind you, might have ended up like a tin of corned beef in a fly-over support. Life for you. One minute a tin of Roses, the next a tin of manky cow.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

I'm waiting for the engineer's report on the car! ;)

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

greencreeper - Yes - but the engine would have also "shutdown" as well wouldn't it?

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Well yes, but at 135 mph I wouldn't fancy trying to steer a car that should have power steering but hasn't, and/or stop a car with no brakes. Be quicker just to drive into a concrete support and test the NCAP rating.

I never passed my test. Just as well really :D I'm too emotional - no control over them and too empathic. As a result, I do everything in life badly.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

I have to admit, I agree with GC here. When the brakes failed in my friends car,an elderly suzuki, it was terrifying (I was a passenger), but he was able to use the gears to slow the car to a speed where he could coast to a stop.

Of course, jamming the car into first at >70 MPH nearly blew up the engine (making a horrible noise), but it did stop.

This guy didn't have that option (no gears).

I suppose another option (depending on the layout of the motorway) might have been to steer the car off the motorway and use the land to slow the car a bit. Of course, that is assuming there are fields either side of the motorway. Not much use if it went through a small town.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Power steering is only useful at low speeds, especially when parking, etc. At high speeds a lot of high performance manufacturers take steps to calm it down - ie give the steering more 'feel'

What you do NOT want is for the steering lock to engage whilst mobile, rendering the car unsteerable.

So in the circumstance described, if the brakes are unable to restrain a racing engine connected to an automatic, and, unusually, you are unable to disengage the transmission (due, one assumes, to a totally isolated and unconnected failure) select a straight bit of road, turn off the ignition, ideally back to the accessory position, and keep standing on the brake. If you find the steering locks, turn the key back to the next position as you have gone past accessory to off. Whilst this may appear fiddly, you are doing 35 not 135 and even if you hit a roundabout via the hard shoulder, chances are you will not roll it.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Did he check if he used the indicators, that the car may return to control...

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

This car would have got to 135 within a minute. Lets face it with the benefit of the time to think it over we can all go over the pros and cons of the various options but if your in a car at 135mph and possibly with no experience at that speed your not likely to want a option thats possibly going to lock the steering.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

I'm keeping an open mind on this one, I can smell a rat. I know the A1 that runs through Notts like the back of my hand, there are a few bends just before Doncaster that he'd not have gotten round doing 135mph. Like I said I can smell a rat.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

I smell bull too.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Likewise .. he had the time and composure to phone the AA and the Police whilst struggling with this car ???? Surely when he first noticed something was wrong at 70mph the brakes would've been man enough to stop the car. :erm:

And what did he think the AA could do ?...... lasso him from a chasing Transit or borrow those RAC men with jet boots (from the TV ad) to repair the jammed accelerator en route ?? :rolleyes:

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

I recon he faked it as he suffers from some sort of attention seeking personality disorder.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Knowing you can't stop would be a nightmare. I'd hate that to happen to me.

[Goes off to add BMW's to the "Cars not to buy" list].

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

It's easy to say what you would have done when you're sat at home with a cuppa and a rich tea. Much harder to be level-headed when hurtling down a motorway at 135mph with a car that's falling apart.

It reminded me of a similar story with a lorry. Had a rummage and found it: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/365915.stm

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Ah but he got found out in the end didn't he? It was all a load of bull.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Yeah. Some strange people about.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

The brakes would have been quite suffice to stop him at 70mph, even at that speed he could have used the barriers in the middle to slow him down, like I said I'm keeping an open mind on it till the coppers and BMW check the car.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

I have actually had this happen to me, many, many years ago ... albeit in a Austin Healey Sprite and at 60mph on a country road. I managed to bring the vehicle to rest on a garage forecourt using the brakes and handbrake and switching the engine off when nearly stopped. It was a very scary few moments though I admit. :shocked:

I've also had a Ford Capri 3.0 auto engine cut out completely doing 85mph on a Mway fast lane. Being auto enabled me to coast quickly onto the hard shoulder, although at least one other driver thought I was a nutter !! :Yikes:

Both these accounts are absolutely true. :angel: Not so sure about this BMW drivers account though. :erm:

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

He kept himself at 70mph for ages - just move to the hard shoulder, turn off the engine, use the handbrake to slow you down - he'd have stopped inside a mile. I find it hard to believe neither the AA or the Police suggested such a simple action.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Sorry but there is a bit of a bovine whiff about this guys story. When I first heard it on the news I was sceptical to say the least and to be honest I'm no closer to believing his story now. I'm waiting for the car to get a clean bill of health and for him to get a slap on the wrist instead of a ban.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

it's all bull. As has been mentioned pull onto the hard shoulder and turn of the ignition.

You don't even have to touch the brakes, just freewheel to a standstill.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

I think I would smell BS if he'd given this story to the police after managing to stop his car, but the fact he crashed it into a roundabout at that sort of speed makes me think this is genuine. You wouldn't risk your life like that just to escape a driving ban.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

I'd probably have tried kicking the accelerator first in an attempt to free it. Then put both feet (automatic = BIG brake pedal) on the brake pedal and possibly use the handbrake too.
If that wasn't enough to stop the car (but kept the speed at 70, as has been mentioned) then I'd simply change to neutral and let the engine go bang.

Switching off would be my last resort, as it does make the behaviour of the car rather difficult to anticipate.

The simple fact is I simply don't believe this tale. The design of a car accelerator system makes it quite unlikely to stick down. But, for the moment, let's accept it may happen.

Most cars these days have braking systems well able to stop the car. The only way to burn out a brake system is by not applying the brakes hard enough.

Lastly, now we also have to have some failure of the automatic box that stops him dropping into neutral? The odds of these events combining are stacking up rather a lot.

---------- Post added at 09:52 ---------- Previous post was at 09:49 ----------

But you might if you just wanted your 15 minutes of fame...

I must admit, had he tried the story after the event, then I'm sure no-one would even have remotely believed him. As it is, I haven't seen anywhere mention how long he'd been racing down the A1 before he called anyone.

---------- Post added at 10:12 ---------- Previous post was at 09:52 ----------

Didn't say so in the BBC article...

I did note that the driver said:
So had he been driving a manual he'd have kept his foot on the accelerator?

And how did he manage to avoid the 'traffic in front' - he was supposedly slowing down because of it, but instead he got through it at a minimum of 70mph?

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Needs a tin of http://www.jamminn.com/store/media/210007m.jpg perhaps

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

I feel that BMW will give the car an all clear (dont want massive safety recalls now do they?). However I do think the guy wanted to write off his motor for insurance purposes, hece crashing into the roundabout.

A few years back one of my old uni mates drove overtook a unmarked police car at approximately 90mph on the motorway. When he noticed flashing lights behind him he poured a bottle of water over his groin and kept his foot on the accelarator for a couple more miles before pulling over on the hard shoulder. He told the police that the accelarator had got jammed and he wet himself as the car approached ridiculous speeds. The police waited for the AA to give the car a once over, and took the car for a spin on the motorway. Satisfied there was nothing wrong with it, they let my mate continue driving the car, with just a word of advice as to take it to the garage as soon as he can. No points or fines for him!

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

I'd love to hear the outcome of this...any day now hopefully!!

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006120809,00.html

No faults found with the car. :scratch:

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Isn't that a shock?? I'm mystified as to what happened to keep it accelerating then ;)

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

There is no mystery here. The man is a born bull****ter and got caught :) Simple as that :disturbd:

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

<unfair sweeping generalisation>

I know BMW drivers will do anything possible to ensure they go as fast as they can at all times, but this indicates a previously unknown level of creativity :spin: :D

</unfair sweeping generalisation>

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Can't believe you used BMW and Indicates in the same sentance :p:

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

The bloke is a prat....saw him the other morning on This Morning - balling his eye's out he was!

Put on a good show though! 10 / 10 for acting skills!

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Hmmm, I wonder if his insurance company and the plod will be checking to see how much he got for the TV appearances and magazine/newspaper interviews?

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

He might not have got anything for doing This Morning.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

I actually saw the car...i live in the south but i am from newcastle...i'm please i left a bit after him.! I was in the traffic jam for about 30 mins then saw the BMW ON TOP of the sign posts at the roundabout. It had the roof cut off...very odd site. Any way i know that bit of road and if i remember correctly (i could be proved wrong) it doesn't have a hard shoulder.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

But would BMW not say that anyways in order to protect sales of the car?

As well as there reputation.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Thats what I said to my missus the other day when we were talking about it, I said to her there is no hard shoulder on that part of the A1 so he's bulling there for a start, I travel that stretch of the A1 2-3 times a week and I can garuantee you there is no hard shoulder. People have been taken in by him, it's time for the coppers to charge him with wasting police time, speeding, reckless driving.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

and even more importantly charge him with wasting 'this morning' time!

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Ackworth to Blyth is a motorway and does, but its D2M not D3M, the bit further north is a D2. Don't know what the new bit is but I think it's D3M.

---------- Post added at 14:34 ---------- Previous post was at 14:25 ----------

My point can clearly be seen from this section... thanks to Google Earth.

The zoom level was no good near the Blyth island but this is further North.


The 2nd attachment is the folded cloverleaf junction at the North end of the Doncaster A1M which is still D2M.

Thirdly we have the A1 at its junction with the A639 further north, clearly only D2 there.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/h...re/5094840.stm




:p: :disturbd:

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

So ... the police think there's something fishy about the story but they can't pin anything on him ...

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

It's not the first time this has happened to an automatic car, it might be interesting to know how many times it has occured.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

A few years back, while I was learning to drive, I was driving my dad's Seat Ibiza and the throttle jammed. As soon as I realsied something bad was happening (the engine sound pitch rose as if it were accelerating), I took my foot off the accelerator. When the engine carried on accelerating, I jammed the clutch down and forced the car into neutral. Luckily, we were only doing 20 MPH.

Maybe something similar happened here? Although I would expect some physical evidence of this (maybe some damage to the throttle where it jammed).

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

I remember the throttle jamming open on my mini cooper, the end of the throttle cable got caught on the inlet manifold as I accelerated in my boy racer days down the dual carraigeway. I only realised when I got to the roundabout that gives the option of either goes left or right.

I was told by a former Rolls Royce employee about a Silver Shadow that suffered from the throttle stuck open, it apparently wrecked the back wall of the garage it was kept in. He claimed they repaired it free of charge on the condition the story was kept away from the newspapers.

Probably a myth!

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

It was a common problem in Audi Quattro (Automatic --USA model) ten years ago. It was an intermittent problem. In the end Audi was forced to admit the problem and pay up...

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

You cant argue with any of that. There is no car I know of where an electrical failure will result in complete loss of brakes. Only a major failure of the master cylinder would result in complete loss & cylinders now have a double barrel safety built in. Should a brake pipe burst you would still have 2 brakes to stop you. I think the smell of bull**** has wafted a bit far here.

Re: Accelerator jam car hits 135mph
 

Hopefully only once per car :rolleyes: