Toyota that struck pedestrians to be examined

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.courant.com/community/waterbury/hc-ap-ct-church-pedestrianapr26,0,1468726.story

Associated Press

April 26, 2010

WATERBURY, Conn.
Police say a car that struck three elderly women outside a Connecticut church will be inspected for possible mechanical problems this week.

Police say 77-year-old Evelyn Szynkowicz's Toyota Camry struck another car Saturday morning and hit the pedestrians, who were standing outside Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Waterbury. Authorities say the victims' injuries aren't life-threatening.

The most seriously injured pedestrian, 85-year-old Carolyn Conte, is hospitalized in stable condition. The two other women struck were 85 and 93 years old.

FULL story at link.

[Tesha]

1. I'm sorry, but this is more likely driver error than any mechanical malfunction. (NT)

[demodonkey]

2. And you know this, how?

Is it perhaps because the driver in the story was said to be 77 years old?

Sadly, ageism is one of the most persistent prejudices and one that is 'acceptable' to many.

The article said nothing to indicate driver error.

[Little Star]

5. You are right on all counts. n/t

[Tesha]

6. Yes, that's precisely why it's likely to be driver error.

A parking accident with a relatively old driver
is a *VERY* typical situation where this occurs.

Let's see what happens as the story plays out...

Tesha

[madmom]

9. "Let's see what happens as the story plays out..." she says as she

has already concluded it was driver's error!:banghead:

[madokie]

11. Oh my, my head hurts

lets see you pick a spot about this size, making circle with fingers, and proceed to pound the heck out of it with your forehead until you see the light or you pass out which ever comes first :rofl:

[demodonkey]

12. You may call it "typical" but it is UNPROVEN and NOT INDICATED in the story in any way.

Sorry, but once again ageism is one of the most pervasive prejudices.

Indeed, let us see what happens as it plays out. In the meantime it would be good not to make pronouncements regarding "typical" so-called old drivers. My uncle drove very safely until shortly before his death at age 95. I never felt as safe riding with any other driver, except for my mother who drove equally well until age 87.

[WeekendWarrior]

18. I'm old and I agree with this assessment

We lose certain skills as we get older. I'm not sure a 77-year old should be driving. Period. I know I won't be when I'm that age -- which isn't all that far off.

[demodonkey]

27. And there are some 35 year-olds who should not be on the road as well.

Everyone ages differently. No one is "typical" at a particular age any more than one can say a "typical" person of a certain race does or is such and so.

You certainly are free to give up your license anytime you feel you are no longer safe on the road, but as I said my uncle and my mother drove extremely safely and well until age 95 and 87 respectively. There was never any indication that either one should not be driving; indeed I felt as safe riding with my mother or uncle as I did when I was behind the wheel myself. We run a family farm here, and my mother was actually pulling a trailer and hauling livestock at age 86.

As I said, everyone is different.

And there was NOTHING in that story to indicate the accident was age-related.

[DainBramaged]

23. So are you an accident investigator with credentials?

your words hold no creditibility.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. Because all accidents are far more likely to be driver error than mechanical malfunction.

[Tesha]

17. Don't harsh their buzz -- they're having fun with their latest Toyota hate-fest! (NT)

[DainBramaged]

21. (sigh) have you even had a blowout?

Is that driver error? I guess your theory just went in the dumper.

How about a bad hub or wheel bearing? Black ice? Oil on the road? poor visibility? Engine failure while trying to pass on a highway (I saw that, spectacular and everyone walked away from the crash).


Again, your assumptions make a complete ass of you.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

24. No, actually.

I inspect my tires from time to time. I'm willing to bet that most blowouts occur with very damaged tires.

"Is that driver error? I guess your theory just went in the dumper."

It would if anecdotal evidence (which hasn't actually occured, btw) overruled actual, real statistics that clearly show the vast majority traffic accidents are human error.

You are far more likely to be killed by a guy driving a Ford then a runaway Toyota.

"Again, your assumptions make a complete ass of you."

The assumption is still very valid, and a better assumption than your assumption.

[DainBramaged]

26. Did you know most blowouts are from running over something

while driving? And also they are from weakened sidewalls after repeated curb strikes, potholes in the salt belt states, or defects in the tire, especially very cheap tires.


You really need to bone up on car stuff.


Again, your assumption most drivers aren't as diligent as you is truly conceited.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

28. Can you back up that claim with a source?

[DainBramaged]

29. Google is your friend, so find it yourself

As little time as I can spend discussing any topic with you, the happier I am, Mr SelfAssured.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

30. So, you've got nothing.

Even though you were agreeing with me about people driving around with unsafe tires.

:rofl:

[DainBramaged]

31. No you have nothing, and that's all you've had since you've joined here.

pathetic.

[Tesha]

33. Notice the attempted hand-wave where Dain would have us believe that...

... 'repeated curb bumps" isn't a driver-error-related problem.

Tesha

[Kalyke]

15. The poster "knows" it because Ford is kicking Toyota's butt, right now.

:hi:

[DainBramaged]

3. Wow a psychic in our midst

:rofl:

[madokie]

4. Todyota is to never be a major player in the personnel moving vehicle industry again

and the hubris is what is going to do them in. Having a piece of shit product doesn't help any either :rofl:

Buy a ford or a chevy and drive with confidence. :-)

[Tesha]

7. That would suit your fantasies, but it's *NOT* going to happen. (NT)

[DainBramaged]

8. I told ya, a psychic among us......

[madokie]

10. WE'd sure make a pair wouldn't we?

always on the opposite sides of an issue. At lest its good clean fun.
Have a great day :hi: and I mean that, fore shore

[Omaha Steve]

14. So why do we not see more runaways in other makes of cars?

Surely older people drive them too.

[Tesha]

19. That would be because it's currently very popular to report every instance...

...where a Totota *MIGHT* have run away, but not
nearly as popular to report the story when a different
make is involved.

You yourself are the clearest proof of the first half of
my statement.

Tesha

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DainBramaged]

20. You are being logical, that doesn't compute here

Long before the recalls, Toyota had over TWICE the number of complaints due to unintended acceleration. And the dozens who have died may want to remind those here that defend Toyota that they tried to cover up their problems which remain unsolved.

[Tesha]

32. Actually, as you well know, there are plenty of non-Toyotas high on the list.

Why not post the list instead of just alluding to it?

Tesha

[Omaha Steve]

35. Tesha

Are you blaming the victims? You haven't waited to see what NASA has to say about all this. But your sure what TOYOTA feeds you is the factual truth. Check the other progressive blogs. Huffington Post chimed in and I posted that here in GD Saturday.

Had Toyota been forth coming just last year when it recalled cars in Canada, they wouldn't be in this mess. They waited until this year for the recall. That is why they were fined over $16 million and paid the fine.

[Tesha]

39. The "victims"? No, in this latest case, I'm blaming the driver. (NT)

[Omaha Steve]

40. Before you know the facts

Can't get on a jury that way.

[DainBramaged]

41. And you claim to be a Progressive? Shame on you for assuming fault

shame on you. My God, you really don't understand 'giving the benefit of the doubt'.


I work for a GM dealer, I am not ashamed of my affiliation. I think you should own up and tell us who you work for or forever hold your piece, because you lack one trait that even I have, and that's objectivity.

[Tesha]

42. The statistics in this sort of an accident are unmistakeable.

And whether or not I am a progressive has nothing to do
with it.

By the way, I don't see you "giving (Toyota) the benefit of
the doubt", so don't bother trying to lay that requirement on
me either.

Face it: older drivers drive their cars into things at a much
higher rate than does the average driver, and all the moaning
about how un-PC it is to say that won't change that fact. As I
said, we'll probably eventually know with a high degree of
certainty the root cause of this particular accident. But I'll bet
I won't read about it here because it probably won't be an
indictment of Toyota.

Tesha

[Omaha Steve]

43. And the runaway on the cop last week was because?

He doesn't fit the old pattern you suggest as the sole reason on these.

[Tesha]

44. Do I claim there are *NO* runaways? No, I don't.

I simply claim that this particular one probably is driver failure
rather than mechanical failure.

(BTW, cops are sometimes lousy drivers too.)

Tesha

[frylock]

16. there haven't been many (or ANY) recent reports of unintended accelaration..

anyone care to venture a guess as to why?

[Omaha Steve]

25. Last week a COP in San Diego had a runaway

Drove over a motor cycle. I posted that too. But as you can see, a lot of people don't read the news when it hits.

Goggle news using San Diego Toyota would help you find several stories on it. Or the one I posted here Saturday.

There are others too IF you look! Not just in the USA either.

[frylock]

34. couldn't find it..

but i do see a story from an incident that occurred saturday with a 77 year-old driver.

[Omaha Steve]

36. My fault wrong city, here it is

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8209968

[frylock]

38. thanks

[Omaha Steve]

37. Another one in (Houston?) Texas had a death a week ago

It went off a parking garage and killed the driver. Plus the Toyota that drove off a garage and landed on two other cars last week. The stories are there if you take the time to look.