Accelerator jam car hits 135mph

[basa]

Originally Posted by etccarmageddon

I smell bull too.

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.

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 ??

[etccarmageddon]

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

[Halcyon]

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].

[greencreeper]

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

Originally Posted by greencreeper

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

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

[greencreeper]

Originally Posted by Nidge

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

Yeah. Some strange people about.

Originally Posted by basa

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.

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.

[basa]

Originally Posted by greencreeper

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

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.

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 !!

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

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.

[Paul K]

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.

[Pierre]

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.

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.

Originally Posted by lsainsbury

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?

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 ----------

Originally Posted by Chris T

You wouldn't risk your life like that just to escape a driving ban.

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 ----------

Originally Posted by etccarmageddon

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

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

I did note that the driver said:

I was travelling down the motorway and I came to traffic in front of me.
I took my foot off the accelerator because it's automatic

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?

[Angua]

Needs a tin of perhaps

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

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!