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MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE say a crash that injured 10 pedestrians near Boston’s airport does not appear to be an intentional act.
A police official said the crash, which happened at about 6.40pm Irish time, is believed to be a case of “operator error” in which the driver stepped on the accelerator pedal instead of the brake.
The person was not authorised to comment on the record and spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The 56-year-old taxi driver’s vehicle struck the pedestrians in a taxi-queuing area this afternoon near Logan International Airport in East Boston. State police spokesman David Procopio says 10 people were injured, some seriously.
The white cab, with front-end damage, came to rest against a building.
Procopio says based on the preliminary investigation, “there is no information that suggests the crash was intentional”.
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Yeah, it happens in Automatics.
You need to tie your left leg under the seat if you are used to driving a manual
@eastsmer #IRExit: You left leg is never near the accelerator though..
@eastsmer #IRExit:
The brake peddle in an auto is in the same position as it is in a manual car. Also, he pressed the accelerator instead of the brake. How would he manage to accidentally do this with his left foot. Are you aware where the peddles in a car are positioned?
Your comment makes about as much sense as Ireland leavening the EU would. Just in case you don’t understand that, it means absolutely none!
@eastsmer #IRExit: You accelerate with left foot? You are Chtisty Brown and I claim my 10€. If you’re drivin’ IRExit can you practise first pn Brits?
@Nick Allen: The brake pedal is in the middle of course but it is a larger pedal.
Obviously you have never changed from a manual to an automatic and back again.
@eastsmer #IRExit:
My wife has and auto and I have a manual, I make the switch on a daily basis. Yes the peddle can be bigger (not always) but it is still in the same position and there is no way you accidentally hit the accelerator with you left foot.
@Free comment ratings: My wife uses the left foot for excellerator in her auto. It’s not very common but some people do it.
@Nick Allen: he’s not talking about tying your left foot to prevent you from pressing the accelerator
He’s referring to people who drive manuals and then an auto have the habit of thinking the car has a clutch pedal and mistaking the brake pedal for the clutch pedal .
@Shawn Rahoon:
Where is her right foot then ?
Out the window ?!
@Shawn Rahoon: Fair enough if she has one leg.
@Quentin Moriarty: She crosses her legs and uses the right for the break.
@Quentin Moriarty:
He said it happens in automatics. The article is about the driver pressing the accelerator instead of the brake. How do you interpret this as accidentally using your left foot to press a non existent clutch? The accelerator is on the right hand side of the footwell in a car. There is no accidental pressing of the accelerator associated with switching from manual to auto or vice versa.
@Shawn Rahoon:
That is dangerous
@Nick Allen:
It’s not dangerous, penny just dropped that you are talking BS
@Nick Allen: there is no mention of the driver using his left leg on the accelerator in the article
No one who drives an auto uses their left leg at all whilst driving
Those who are not used to driving autos mistakenly press the brake of the auto car out of sheer habit from using the clutch pedal in their manual
@Nick Allen: I’m only kidding. But seriously she lost the upper half of her right leg many yrs ago and finds it very difficult to drive an auto.
@Shawn Rahoon: good lord
Hope she doesn’t lose the lower half
Did her knee go with the top half or is it still with the lower ?
@Quentin Moriarty: Still with the lower, thank God.
@Shawn Rahoon: super news
Great summer sales in shoes to enjoy then
@eastsmer #IRExit: Is it not a bit different if the driver is a licenced taxi driver?
Imagine people are scared of autonomous driving cars…..a computer will never press the wrong pedal
@Mary Murphy: Maybe not . but they have mistaken the picture on the side of a truck for a skyline , that cost someone their life .
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/30/tesla-autopilot-death-self-driving-car-elon-musk
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/12/google-self-driving-cars-mistakes-data-reports
@Ken Hayden: because the guy repeatedly ignored warning to take control of the vehicle. The technology is very early in development to be writing it off over one incident. It’s a driver aid, only autopilot in name. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jan/20/tesla-model-s-cleared-auto-safety-regulator-after-fatal-autopilot-crash
@thomas walsh: Not to be a stickler for detail , but , at no point did it say that the car gave any warnings to the driver , it said that if he had been watching the road , he would have had 7 seconds in which to react , but no warning alarm was given .
What’s the point in having a system that takes the stress of driving , if you have to still give full concentration to what’s happening around you on the road .
@Ken Hayden: Because the technology is still in development. The very reason why you can’t buy these cars yet: the person on board IS supposed to be watching what’s going on because that’s what they’re employed to do.
Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcast had an episode about this. A lot of people who thought accidents had been caused by a random accelerator malfunction were actually just pressing the accelerator the whole time. The problem is they panic when the car speeds up and don’t think to take their foot off and check which pedal they’re pressing. So many deaths caused by a simple mistake.
@Fred O’Connor: that’s a great podcast series. The “Bad Medicine” episodes are also a huge eye opener
Poor woman.
Be honest, you were on your phone and didn’t cop on till the last second
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