Over 10 years ago, a lot of FUD was spread about "unintended acceleration" of Toyota vehicles and the Prius were targeted by a lot of Fear Uncertainty Doubt (FUD) posters. A Prius owner, I went to the primary sources and learned how the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) works. I also participated but did not stop the failed, "Bell the Hybrid" nonsense. Regardless, the usual suspects are at FUD generation again so here are the facts and data.
Tesla "Preliminary Evaluation" - PE 21-020
Source: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2021/INOA-PE21020-1893.PDF
Too often and too easily, the liars by omission fail to include important details. Read it yourself.
How NHTSA Investigates
Source: https://www.governmentattic.org/32docs/NHTSA-ODI-SOP_2016-2017.pdf
Long and a little dry, this documents how the NHTSA approaches preliminary investigations.
Summary
There has been a significant improvement in NHTSA processes since the heady days of "unintended acceleration" a decade ago. But 'liars by omission' are still around and try to blow smoke up rectums. Sad because it means their lack of honesty and character is both silly while meant to mislead innocents.
About the "unintended acceleration" nonsense over 10 years ago, the air bag controllers included ~30 second data record that revealed application of the accelerators instead of the brakes. We still see reports of cars and pickups driving through walls and mowing down pedestrians BUT the recorded, universal air bag controller data shows the driver error.
Yes, there have been NHTSA failures such as the noise makers for EV and hybrid vehicles. Without going into details, it was based on bad math and worse, ignores a real problem (i.e., "A" pillar obstruction of driver eyes.) But the annual number of deaths and injuries are small compared to the lives and injuries saved by Tesla's Autopilot. Worse, it takes attention away from the murderous VW, Hyundai, and Kia vehicles(*).
Bob Wilson
* - Yes, study of FUDsters makes hitting them with a clue-by-for trivial. <GRINS> Only VW, maker of the Ioniq series is a proven and convicted killer with their diesel cheat.
Bob Wilson
Tesla "Preliminary Evaluation" - PE 21-020
Source: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2021/INOA-PE21020-1893.PDF
Too often and too easily, the liars by omission fail to include important details. Read it yourself.
How NHTSA Investigates
Source: https://www.governmentattic.org/32docs/NHTSA-ODI-SOP_2016-2017.pdf
Long and a little dry, this documents how the NHTSA approaches preliminary investigations.
Summary
There has been a significant improvement in NHTSA processes since the heady days of "unintended acceleration" a decade ago. But 'liars by omission' are still around and try to blow smoke up rectums. Sad because it means their lack of honesty and character is both silly while meant to mislead innocents.
About the "unintended acceleration" nonsense over 10 years ago, the air bag controllers included ~30 second data record that revealed application of the accelerators instead of the brakes. We still see reports of cars and pickups driving through walls and mowing down pedestrians BUT the recorded, universal air bag controller data shows the driver error.
Yes, there have been NHTSA failures such as the noise makers for EV and hybrid vehicles. Without going into details, it was based on bad math and worse, ignores a real problem (i.e., "A" pillar obstruction of driver eyes.) But the annual number of deaths and injuries are small compared to the lives and injuries saved by Tesla's Autopilot. Worse, it takes attention away from the murderous VW, Hyundai, and Kia vehicles(*).
Bob Wilson
* - Yes, study of FUDsters makes hitting them with a clue-by-for trivial. <GRINS> Only VW, maker of the Ioniq series is a proven and convicted killer with their diesel cheat.
Bob Wilson
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