French driver trapped for an hour in speeding 125mph car with no brakes

phil675 said:
A car adapted for disabled use, presumably automatic. They tend to have buttons and things instead of pedals so perhaps the control system was to blame. Can you put an auto into neutral when its moving? I've never tried.

Newer renaults tend to have button starts so maybe it doesn't let you turn it off if you're driving or something.
Click to expand...

Yeah you can put it into neutral and different gears.
 
tom_e said:
I think they got a bit confused he wasn't doing 125mph he travelled 125 miles.
Click to expand...

Nah also says in the french report he got to 200 km/h.

I can sort of see some hand control unit for throttle and brakes failing, but and unable to put it in nuetral and unable to switch off the ignition?? Then when it run out of fuel why did he have to stack it into a ditch - why not just coast to a stop with his escort? Sounds really bizarre!
 
Dogbreath said:
This is pathetic. People shouldn't be driving if they are so incapable of dealing with this sort of situation in a logical manner.
Click to expand...

Indeed.

It's also a bit peculiar that people think that.

Steering lock comes on when you turn the ignition off.
PAS will stop working even though the engine is still turning (epas will differ ofc)
Brake servo will be helpful when the engine is wide open and thus not making any vac.
 
I'd be like :eek: at first as the driver but then when the police escort turned up I'd be like :cool: then when I finally ran out of petrol I'd be strutting away from the car like :D
 
Yes steering lock will come on when you turn the car off, but it will also come back off again when you turn the key to "on".

Its a Renault, so it will have key less entry or a key card so you cant turn the car off that way (locks in with a catch when the car is on). I don't believe the stop start button works if your driving along, at least mine didn't, not that I tried very hard to do it!

Its likely that it was an auto as the driver was disabled.
 
Clarkey said:
It's also a bit peculiar that people think that.
...
Brake servo will be helpful when the engine is wide open and thus not making any vac.
Click to expand...

They have non-return valves on them, so ofc the servo will still assist at WOT.

Overall though, I think it's cute that you guys know how to stop the car better than the myriad people who were consulted whilst it was out of control - even talking to the people who built the thing didn't help - but it's OK - if only OcUK had been there to tell him to shift it into neutral.
 
GeX said:
They have non-return valves on them, so ofc the servo will still assist at WOT.

Overall though, I think it's cute that you guys know how to stop the car better than the myriad people who were consulted whilst it was out of control - even talking to the people who built the thing didn't help - but it's OK - if only OcUK had been there to tell him to shift it into neutral.
Click to expand...

Only until the stored vac ran out though, same as if the engine was off.

You definitely can turn a renault off while moving using the stop button. Also, amusingly you can pull the whole card reader unit out and unplug it while driving and the engine will continue running.
 
olivercamos said:
Imagine a car coming up at 125mph behind you, I'd just think 'you'll have to slow down sunshine' and end up ploughing into me.
Click to expand...

Oh, you're *that* driver. The one who only pulls over once he's slowed you down to whatever speed *he* feels everyone should be going at... :rolleyes:
 
He could have been pro and reached to the fuse box under the steering wheel and pull the fuel pump fuse. But knowing the french his car most likely has all the fuses under the bonnet.

Also when the car ran out of petrol why would you bin the car in a ditch?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom