This week in safety: More about the Toyota investigation

Our car team reported this week that the investigation into the Toyota/Lexus sudden acceleration, which prompted the largest recall in the company’s history to remove floor mats that could interfere with the accelerator pedal, isn’t over yet.

While the debate goes on, our car guys have been busy at the test track. They advise that whatever the cause of unintended acceleration, the best defense is to know how to safely regain control of your car should it happen to you. They wrote that putting a car in neutral might save your life. And their latest tests show that pumping the brakes at full throttle can make a bad problem even worse, as demonstrated in this video from ABC News. Read more about this issue on our Cars blog.

More safety news
Salmonella victims angry over no prosecutions
MSNBC.com
At the height of the nationwide salmonella outbreak nearly a year ago, FBI agents raided two peanut plants and carried away boxes of evidence. FDA inspectors found roaches, mold and a leaky roof. Despite the fanfare over the criminal probe of one of the largest product recalls ever, no one has yet been charged in the outbreak, which was linked to hundreds of illnesses and nine deaths. Read more ...

Target, Kmart and Toys 'R' Us agree to settle lead claims
Los AngelesTimes
Three major retailers have agreed to pay nearly half a million dollars to settle a lawsuit stemming from the companies' sale of toys containing excessive amounts of lead, the California attorney general's office said. Under the agreement, Target Corp., Toys 'R' Us Inc. and Kmart would pay a total of $454,000 in civil penalties and other fines. Read more ...

FDA warns companies against marketing illegal flavored cigarettes
Food and Drug Administration
Enforcement of the flavored cigarette ban is the FDA’s effort to remove cigarettes that contain certain candy or fruit flavors from the marketplace. Removal of these products from the market will assist in the prevention of children and adolescents from starting to smoke and in the reduction in death and disease caused by smoking. Read more ...

Flammability problem with chenille garments
Product Safety Letter
Recently there have been a rash of burn injuries leading to 9 deaths due to robes made of chenille yarn. Why all of sudden do we have this unusual problem? There are possibly a number of reasons. Read more ...

Study: Increasing number of injuries from hot tubs
Science Daily
Though hot tubs, whirlpools and spas are widely used for relaxation and fun, they can pose serious risk for injury. A recent study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that from 1990-2007, the number of unintentional hot tub-related injuries increased by 160 percent, from approximately 2,500 to more than 6,600 injuries per year. Read more ...

Recalls of dog chewies

• Pet Carousel pig ears and beef hooves (salmonella)
• PetSmart recalls Dentley's beef hooves (salmonella)

Don's miss these recalls

• 281,800 Adventure Playsets wooden play sets (fall hazard)
• 43,000 Samsung cver-the-range microwave ovens (shock hazard)
• 15,000 Life is Good travel mugs (burn hazard)
• 10,000 MacPherson’s children’s art easels (lead paint)

Comments

[Eddie]

I have a Prius (2010).
My wife drive it most of the time. It is KEYLESS.
Many of those that do not drive a Prius do not understand this issue when they say, "Turn the key off" or "Take the key out".
We have researched and practiced shuting down the Prius.
Now we have a plan.
1. Turn on emerg flashers.
2. Try and find a exit area away from traffic.
3. Press the START button and hold for about 3 seconds or until the engine dies.
4. Apply brake to slow Prius and move out of traffic.
5. If Prius does not shutdown engine then shift into Neutral and get ready for engine to break and a terrible noise. In our Prius when you shift into neutral the RPMs go to idle speed.
Assuming a malfunction the RPMs may increase till the engine breaks. Oh well.
In the event of catastrophic failure the hood may have parts flying out of the engine compartment. We consider the risk acceptable rather than excessive uncontrolled acceleration and or death.

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Our mats are not the ones that need to be replaced. Learning about the Prius and options the driver has when malfunctions occur makes the discussion valuable. EB

[Rich Hibbard]

Best thing is to turn off the key.

[jim fowler Corpus Christi Tx]

With the throttle open, shifting into neutral can raise the RPM high enough to blow the engine.

[P. Ski]

Just shift it into neutral.