AAA Offers Motorists Stuck Accelerator Safety Tips

Phoenix, Ariz., January 29, 2010. Toyota Motor Sales recently announced it was instructing dealers to temporarily suspend sales of vehicle models involved in the recall for sticking accelerator pedals.

Owners of recalled vehicles who notice any problems with their accelerator should drive the vehicle to the nearest safe location, shut the engine off and contact their local Toyota dealer for assistance.

If motorists experience a stuck accelerator pedal while driving any vehicle, AAA recommends the following: 

1. Stay calm, but act quickly. 
   
   
2. Keep looking at the road ahead. Looking away from the road to see what’s wrong with the pedal increases the likelihood of becoming involved in a crash.  
   
   
3. Remove foot from the accelerator completely. Some stuck accelerator crashes have later been found to be the result of an honest mistake—the driver thought he or she was pushing on the brake. 
   
   
4. Put the vehicle’s transmission in neutral or, in a vehicle with standard transmission, depress the clutch. Do NOT turn off the engine. Doing so could cause the power assist to steering and braking to disengage and make it difficult or impossible to steer, and harder to brake. In addition, turning the key too far could possibly lock the steering wheel.
   
   
5. Steer the car to a safe place and stop, then turn off the engine. If stopped by the side of a road, turn on emergency flashers and put out flares or reflective triangles. If unable to get the vehicle off the roadway, allow it to come to a stop and turn on emergency flashers. Do not restart the vehicle. 
    
   

Safety complaints are investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Consumers who wish to file a safety complaint may do so at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm.  

AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to nearly 800,000 Arizona members.  Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists.  Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.  In 2008, AAA was ranked the No. 1 “socially responsible” brand by Landor’s BrandAsset® Valuator.