Brake Override Systems

19 Feb Brake Override Systems

Brake override systems can prevent car accidents, and should be a standard safety feature in ALL automobiles.

A brake override system is a computerized component which automatically overrides the throttle mechanism of a vehicle, helping you to brake even when the accelerator pedal is depressed. This means that a vehicle with unintended acceleration issues may be able to come to a stop during such a situation, averting a potentially deadly car accident.

Brake override systems are expensive to retrofit into vehicles. Having said that, many car manufacturers are opting to include these systems in ALL their new vehicles. If the NHTSA has their way (and we hope they do), these brake override systems will become standard safety features required on all vehicles in the near future.

Manufacturers who care more about their bottom line than the safety of the people buying their cars may even be found culpable through a product liability claim or lawsuit. One could argue that due to the vehicle manufacturer’s greed, they exercised some form of negligence by not installing a vital safety feature which consequently caused an easily preventable car or truck accident.

More and more manufacturers are toeing the line and installing brake override systems. Toyota has made the news by doing so, but this decision by them was only made after the stuck accelorator pedal debackle. These issues with sticking pedals led to a massive recall, and could have been mitigated by using these brake override systems..

However, it is also worth noting that these systems can fail. The brake override system relies on software which may become corrupt and malfunction. At the same time, another flaw in the vehicle may set up a domino effect leading to system failure.

At Rasansky Law Firm, we're 100% behind any measures which will increase the safety of motorists. We're excited to see more and more auto manufacturers voluntarily implimenting these systems, and hope that it becomes a standard safety feature in the near future.

By Jeff Rasansky