# Old people and stuck gas pedals again. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 20, 2000, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-and-stuck-gas-pedals-again/46557 "2000-12-20T18:59:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2000, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-and-stuck-gas-pedals-again/46557/41 "2000-12-22T03:51:51Z")
Many years ago I bought a Torino from a guy who had lost his licence OMVUI. I drove it for a few months before winter set in. While backing from our driveway into the gravel road we lived on the throttle stuck. The engine raced but I couldn’t stop because I was backing into about 6" of snow and I was sure I would get stuck. It was late winter and the plows had pushed snow up on both sides of the road. To stop would have meant it would have to sit until spring.So I drove it that way to the corner and parked it in an unused driveway. About half way there a rod let loose. I now had a junk car. Anytime that engine races uncontrolled you have that possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2000, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-and-stuck-gas-pedals-again/46557/42 "2000-12-23T08:01:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Phobia \* > **Homer I know it was dieseling. I just wanted to point out that turning off the ignition will not always shut down the engine.** You are absolutely correct. I read it as an engine _built to race_, not an engine _that is racing._ Because of the mis-read, I thought the point you were making is that a ‘racing-built engine’ won’t necessarily stop when you cut the ignition. Sorry. I had an Escort that dieseled sometimes. PITA. –Tim ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2000, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-and-stuck-gas-pedals-again/46557/43 "2000-12-23T21:48:08Z")
**mangeorge** : > [@](#): > > What’s “per mile” got to do with the overall picture? Isn’t it a good thing that these folks do drive fewer miles? You’re still going after the smallest segment of the total of accidents, aren’t you? A high accident rate per mile means that they are dangerous drivers, and the only reason they don’t represent a larger portion of the total accidents is that they don’t drive very often. Think of it this way: Say you know a person who drives very rarely, but he’s such a bad driver that every time he goes out he gets into an accident - say one accident per 20 miles. He only drives 40 miles a year, so he isn’t responsible for a large _number_ of accidents. But wouldn’t you agree that he’s still a dangerous driver, and he shouldn’t be on the road? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2000, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-and-stuck-gas-pedals-again/46557/44 "2000-12-23T23:24:57Z")
> [@](#): > > But wouldn’t you agree that he’s still a dangerous driver, and he shouldn’t be on the road? Sure I would, **Mr2001**. But I’d tend to concentrate more of my efforts (and worries) on the younger drivers, who drive a lot more miles and cause a **lot** more accidents. In fact, I’d probably sentence the kid to comminity service. Driving grampa (who’s lost his license) to the park so he can feed the pigeons. 😉 See what I mean, jellybean? Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2000, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-and-stuck-gas-pedals-again/46557/45 "2000-12-23T23:26:14Z")
Stuck gas pedals have been the declared cause of 3 fatal accidents in NASCAR and CART in the past 15 months. But I don’t think it’s conclusive. Other than that, I’ve nothing to add. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2000, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-and-stuck-gas-pedals-again/46557/46 "2000-12-23T23:59:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by racinchikki \* > \*\*Stuck gas pedals have been the declared cause of 3 fatal accidents in NASCAR and CART in the past 15 months. But I don’t think it’s conclusive. > > Other than that, I’ve nothing to add. \*\* Were any of the drivers over the age of 75? Did I manage to be the first with this smartass remark? ;’) Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2000, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-and-stuck-gas-pedals-again/46557/47 "2000-12-24T00:47:43Z")
So, like, does anybody have a link to some statistics about how many accidents elderly drivers cause, but aren’t actually involved in? I’m talking about situations where somebody swerves or slams on the brakes to avoid a collision with some oldster who is doing something like running a stop sign, or turning right out of the left hand lane, or left out of the right hand lane, and ends up cracking up with a third vehicle, while the oldster putzes along, unaware of the destruction left in his/her wake. I was once nearly run over by some seventy-odd year old guy. I was crossing the street, and he had his turn signal on. Me, thinking a turn signal meant that he intended to turn, stepped into the street, and he kept going straight, honked at me, and kept right on rolling turn signal flashing merrily for at least another half-mile… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-and-stuck-gas-pedals-again/46557.md?page=2)