[sliverstorm]

Thank god! I have heard only from people who buy into the witch hunt (and an excellent name for it, that is). I am really very glad to see I'm not the only person who realizes most of it is ridiculous and overblown. Hell, even if the gas pedal corroded AND the floor mat held it down, has not one of these drivers even though to reach down and PULL the goddamn thing up?

I pray people realize this is folly... I don't know what we're gonna do if stupidity brings down the pillar of the auto industry, through no fault of it's own.

[tome]

Witch hunt is a great word. When I watched a CNN clip of one woman giving evidence about her "broken" Lexus I felt a very strong analogue to Arthur Miller's The Crucible.

[kolosy]

see audi circa 1987.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi#Reported_sudden_unintended...

[mediaman]

I don't disagree that this has been overblown, but in fairness it would be fairly difficult to reach down and pull the gas pedal up while the engine is raging and the vehicle is undergoing significant forward acceleration, while the driver is presumably trying to avoid colliding into other vehicles and objects.

Of course, they should just shift it to neutral and let it redline.

[sliverstorm]

Yes to the second part

as for the first part, doesn't have to be your hand. Depending on the vehicle, you might be able to get your toe under the pedal.