Allegations of  UA and the media furor around it virtually destroyed Audi in the United States.  Audi was vindicated eventually, with UA and the unfortunate accidents associated with it attributed to driver error.

Toyota is now “in the barrel”  with the politicians and media all intimating that there is some sinister plot at work.  There’s a lot at stake.  If there have been genuine misdeeds then let’s prove it beyond a question of a doubt and hold Toyota responsible. If indeed, driver error was the issue, I hope that the media and our politicians will be as quick to acknowledge the fact as they have been to hoist Toyota on its petard.

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below and here’s the letter:

“Holman Jenkins is 100% correct in “Trial Lawyers vs. Toyota” (Business World, Feb. 26).

I taught at BSR Advanced Driver Training at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia for about 20 years, teaching counterterrorism, motorcades, racing, high performance driving and car control techniques. Almost invariably, unintended acceleration was a major problem caused by the driver thinking he is on the brake rather than the gas in an emergency situation. His foot is planted firmly on the gas and his brain is firmly in panic mode and therefore his brain function is zero.

As far as braking, many drivers come completely off the brakes when the ABS kicks in since the perception is that something is wrong with the brakes. Also, many drivers do not brake hard enough.

The majority of accidents are caused by the driver, not the vehicle. In America we teach drivers to pass the driver’s test, not how to drive a car. We want a risk-free world and we’re not going to get it.

Toyota’s problems are more examples of the power of suggestion and mass hysteria then they are of faulty electronics.

Yes, things can go wrong mechanically, but that is very rare, and most of the time it is the driver’s fault. However, we rarely take the blame or the responsibility when we do something wrong; it’s blame the other guy and sue.

The press, politicians and public are all blaming Toyota for faulty equipment, yet there is plenty a driver can do when faced with an emergency. Most drivers really aren’t that skilled. Airline pilots are required to practice emergency maneuvers every six months, yet driving is far more dangerous than flying. Most drivers have no clue about what to do when something does go wrong. How frequently does the average driver practice for emergency situations?

As another driving instructor has said, “A meteorite hitting your car is an ‘accident,’ everything else is driver error.”

Miriam Schottland

President

DriveLab

Washington”