Pedal Errors in Late-Model Automobiles: A Possible Explanation for Unintended Acceleration

900142

02/01/1990

Event
International Congress & Exposition
Authors Abstract
Content
Claims of unintended acceleration in automatic transmission cars is an industry-wide problem. Studies have indicated that in some instances the driver presses the accelerator pedal instead of the brake, and sometimes persists in this error until an accident occurs. (1) (2)
Tests were designed to determine whether pedal errors affect some makes of car more than others; whether certain groups of drivers are especially prone to such errors; and whether errors occur primarily by chance or in combination with such factors as the physical characteristics of the driver, divided attention, unfamiliarity with the vehicle, etc.
During static testing, 26 pedal errors were observed, 14 of them typical of unintended acceleration. One additional error was observed during field tests. It is concluded that pedal errors are more common than has been generally assumed, and that in rare instances such errors result in characteristic unintended acceleration.
Meta TagsDetails
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4271/900142
Pages
7
Citation
Tomerlin, J., and Vernoy, M., "Pedal Errors in Late-Model Automobiles: A Possible Explanation for Unintended Acceleration," SAE Technical Paper 900142, 1990, https://doi.org/10.4271/900142.
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Feb 1, 1990
Product Code
900142
Content Type
Technical Paper
Language
English