[Jim72]

The only thing that is proven with these numbers, is that the elderly are getting into more accidents because of the acceleration problem.

It is quite plausible that the younger and more spry drivers react better to the acceleration and are able to successfully deploy the proper counter measures.

Another and possibly more important question is why didn't Toyota install break override systems which would signal the computer to kill the throttle? This is a common safety system found in all GM cars with electronic throttles.

"If the brake and the accelerator are in an argument, the brake wins," a spokesman at Chrysler said in describing the systems, which it began installing in 2003.

[timwiseman]

The only thing that is proven with these numbers, is that the elderly are getting into more accidents because of the acceleration problem.

No, what is shown is that elderly are in more accidents attributed to the acceleration problem. How much of it is really the acceleration problem and how much not is precisely the question this article is asking.

To really answer it, we need a little more information, such as the proportion of drivers of the affected Toyotas that are older.