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Dearest Auntie reports this[^] story about a French driver whose accelerator got stuck and he had no choice but to drive until he ran out of fuel.
I don't know for sure but isn't it possible that by turning the ignition key half-way you can cut the engine without the steering lock engaging? What was wrong with the handbrake? I thought all cars had to have an independent braking system which the handbrake is. Yes, pulling might have caused damage but surely it would have slowed the car down even if the brake pedal caused it to speed up?
Is it possible he was seeking attention for some reason? Maybe he didn't understand what was going on but something about it doesn't seem to sit right with me. Perhaps it really was a problem.
"I do not have to forgive my enemies, I have had them all shot." — Ramón Maria Narváez (1800-68).
"I don't need to shoot my enemies, I don't have any." - Me (2012).
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Handbrake most likely wouldnt do jack. Turning the ignition key half-way would work. You would lose power steering and power breaks (if the car had them) but would have still been easy enough to get it stopped.
CPallini wrote: You cannot argue with agile people so just take the extreme approach and shoot him.
:Smile:
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I have to say I agree ( although when did Sky News becomes anyone dearest Auntie ?? ). Depending on how modified his Laguna was and how disabled he is the fuse box on those cars is driver reachable, under the dashboard, pull that open and you can easily reset all the electronics on the car in a few seconds, not only would it probably stop but even if it didn't the reset would almost certainly have fixed the error. The only possible way hitting the brake could have increased his speed is if he's got fly by wire secondary controls for disabled access and they've shorted out, pop one fuse and they're out of the loop.
"The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom, courage."
Thucydides (B.C. 460-400)
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My apologies. How could I ever apologise for quoting it as Auntie's report when it was really by that other service that has 200 channels of total shyte puntuated by adverts every twelve minutes or so?
I am sorry Auntie. I am most contrite. 
"I do not have to forgive my enemies, I have had them all shot." — Ramón Maria Narváez (1800-68).
"I don't need to shoot my enemies, I don't have any." - Me (2012).
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My brother had a Laguna from work about 8 years ago. It didn't have a key, just a card you inserted and a button to start. Think you had to eject the card to stop it. I'd imagine that may be disabled whilst moving.
Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends.
Shed Petition[ ^]
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Last time I checked, neutral or even reserve is good gear choice to stop moving.
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Works for an automatic gearbox too.
Alcohol. The cause of, and the solution to, all of life's problems - Homer Simpson
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wizardzz wrote: ...or even reserve is good gear choice...
Is that related to reverse?
Michael Martin
Australia
"I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible."
- Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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Pfft!? No?!? 
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wizardzz wrote: Pfft!? No?!?
I've looked in my car (a manual) and my wife's car (an automatic) and neither of us have a reserve gear.
Michael Martin
Australia
"I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible."
- Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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You silly Aussie's!
When your neighbors asked what you were doing, did you say, "I have to win an internet debate, mate!"
I'm just trolling you, Michael. Happy Friday!
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150 miles - by that time you will have tried something that worked.
Unless you weren't trying.
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The article says the guy had 2 seizures, clearly he was on drugs.
He was also on the phone with a Renault engineer, "Avez-vous essayé de le tourner et de retour dessus encore?"
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Another tidbit of information: the car was, according to one report, "specially designed for disabled drivers".
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Isnt holding the clutch though your accelerator got stuck and then applying breaks stop the car? I dont know how automatic cars work fully.
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And we think we're so much smarter than the cavemen, because they didn't have cars and stuff.
The pillock was driving out of control for over an hour, and, in all that time, couldn't figure out a way to break the car.
Looks like Darwin tried very hard to get him, but just missed.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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Just put it in neutral. OK, the engine wil rev itself to death, but better than spinning the car by pulling on the handbrake at 80 mph and better then crashing.
Plus with the engin running the power steering and brakes work.
==============================
Nothing to say.
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Some cars (eg Audi) do not allow you to turn off the ignition unless you put the car in neutral, and won't let you remove the key unless you're in par. Further, the new Audi's also only have an electronic handbrake that won't allow itself to be engaged if the car's travelling at speed.
Yes, this is a stupid design decision.
Still, you can still slam it down into at least second, if not first, and you still have brakes, and these combined should allow you to bring the car to a safe speed.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project | Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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Chris Maunder wrote: Still, you can still slam it down into at least second, if not first, and you still have brakes, and these combined should allow you to bring the car to a safe speed.
You idiot! You could potentially damage the car.
Michael Martin
Australia
"I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible."
- Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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