Toyota USA‘s official Stopping Procedure video about how to slow down and eventually park a runaway car thanks to a sticky accelerator pedal leaves me to wonder if many drivers using automatic gear shift are dummies.. or at least if Toyota thinks so.

The instructions in this video are the basics that I was taught in a manual gear shift school in Luxembourg. I am scared to think that drivers in an automatics country like the USA would need such a video after they got their driving license. It’s like teaching a professional skydiver how to use the backup parachute.


Video analysis:

  • “you should pay attention to the operation of your accelerator pedal”
    Why would anyone still need such an advice? It’s the most obvious thing..
  • “although it is a rare occurence, we thought YOU should know what steps you should take in the unlikely event”
    The video emphasized the “you” which makes this line another eye-rolling phrase.
  • “simply shift into Neutral, that’s “N” for Neutral”
    (The action is demonstrated in the video)
    So there are drivers operating an automatic car and they don’t know what the “N” stands for?
  • “and firmly apply the breaks to make a controlled stop on the side of the road”
    (Video shows how to put both feet on the break, then releasing it and foot steps back onto the accelerator)
    Did anyone even check this video for errors?
  • “(notched shift gate and you drive in sport mode ..) simply nudge the shifter to the right into Drive, “D””
    (Video shows shift)
    Just in case you still don’t know what the letters stand for.
  • “then forward into Neutral “N””
    And once more.. be sure you now remember “N” stands for “Netural”.
  • “and firmly apply the breaks to make a controlled stop on the side of the road in a safe area and shut off the engine”
    Once more we are taught how to accelerate after the break.
  • “if the vehicle has an engine start/stop button firmly push the button down for at least 3 seconds to turn off the engine”
    (video shows button push)
    I don’t have such a button in my car so I might be wrong but doesn’t that button switch ON when the lights go ON?