[SystemSafety] Another runaway car

[michael.ellims at tesco.net]

You should be able to turn off the ignition at any time, there is usually a relay for the fuel pump however if it’s software controlled...

Failing that, the vehicle can be put into neutral, that’s almost always a mechanical shift unless you have paddles on the steering wheel. Then I have no idea.

The service brakes should be able to overpower the engine, esp. at high speed as the torque at the wheels is lower (i.e. high gear) and the front brakes should be able to apply >> 3000Nm per wheel on a vehicle that size. Note it shouldn’t matter if the throttle is open as regulations require an energy reserve to allow the brakes to be applied 9 times with no engine power. However if you keep using that up - then no power brakes.

The complications is that if you haven't planned any of this in advance it could be quite difficult to think of while you’re moving along. 

The added complication is that it’s adapted for a disabled driver which implies hand controls to replace the brake and throttle so it’s possible there could be a problems with cable interference if a mechanical throttle was used. Goodness knows how they do it with an electronic throttle.



----- Original Message -----
From: Peter Bernard Ladkin <ladkin at rvs.uni-bielefeld.de>
To: systemsafety at techfak.uni-bielefeld.de
Sent: Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:33:22 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: [SystemSafety] Another runaway car

Something similar seems to happen in France every so often.

Whatever the cause, why can't a driver just turn the engine off?

If that is not possible, shouldn't it be a required safety feature on road vehicles that it be possible?

http://gu.com/p/3dmnt

PBL

Prof. Peter Bernard Ladkin, Faculty of Technology, University of Bielefeld, 33594 Bielefeld, Germany
Tel+msg +49 (0)521 880 7319  www.rvs.uni-bielefeld.de




_______________________________________________
The System Safety Mailing List
systemsafety at TechFak.Uni-Bielefeld.DE