NY TIMES article re: Accident

[MikeyD25]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/11/ny...ar-albany.html

Found this item earlier. It was an '07, but it was a Highlander none the less. And of course the recall was mentioned.


MD

[bschurr]

Tragic

[tagheuer]

used to be a big soccer player in high school and we would wear flip flops (addidas slip on ones) after practice, games etc.

this guy was driving a jeep, his flip flop got caught under the gas pedal and he rear ended someone very badly and got some serious injuries.

I had this happen to me once while slowing for a light....it totally freaked me out...panic set in immediately as I tried to yank my foot out.

Luckily the flip flop came off and I stopped w/out incident.

But it is seriously a risk to drive with them on...no joke.

And trust me, I am not some fuddy duddy safety advocate...its just one of those stupid things that can create a huge problem.

[katekebo]

In some countries like Brazil it is actually against the law to drive in flip-flops. Authorities there know how dangerous it can be.

[matt0420]

I'm guilty of driving in flip flops whenever I'm coming home from the cottage/beach. It always takes me roughly 5 mins to feel comfortable with driving in them.

Something I gotta stop doing I suppose...never had them get caught anywhere, but the potential is there...

[TrailDust]

I've never driven with flip flops on as I always take them off and drive barefoot instead. I'll tell you this, though, and that is I've never had any issues with the accelerator on my Highlander....before or after they chopped it up for the recall. However, my Avalon is actually freaking dangerous in that the distance from the floor to the plastic panel that runs underneath the dashboard to conceal the wiring, etc., is exactly the same distance as my foot. I wear size 11 shoes and I'm here to tell you on more than one occasion my shoe has literally become wedged between the floor and the panel, preventing me for several seconds from either accelerating or braking while I'm trying to work my foot free! I've learned to drive the Avalon with my foot askew now in order to prevent that, and I also sent Toyota corporate a strong letter about it and suggesting a redesign for future generations of that car.