[Report] What If My Car Suddenly Accelerates? "Don't Forget the ⓟ Button"

[Sudden Acceleration Accident Controversy ③]
How to Respond When Sudden Acceleration is Suspected... "Actively Use Electronic Parking Brake"
Mechanical Parking Brake Use Discouraged
Risk of Vehicle Spinning or Overturning
Turning Off Engine Not Very Helpful... Use Neutral Gear (N) and EPB

Editor's NoteIncidents suspected to be caused by sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) have become a 'hot potato' issue in our society. With the increasing adoption of electric vehicles that have rapid acceleration capabilities, concerns over suspected SUA incidents have escalated into fear. Victims criticize that the information accessible to prove vehicle defects is excessively limited. Manufacturers point out the misuse of regulations, arguing that even simple driver errors can be mistaken for SUA incidents. This article summarizes the causes of the SUA controversy, the possibility of identifying the causes, ultimate solutions, and response guidelines. Through this, we aim to find clues to resolve the repetitive disputes between victims and manufacturers without conclusion.

On the 8th, at the driving test track inside the Automobile Safety Research Institute in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, various types of passenger cars ran on the track and gradually came to a stop. Although they did not stop after running at very high speeds, there was a burning smell. This was a site where the Automobile Safety Research Institute recreated a simulated sudden unintended acceleration scenario and demonstrated how to respond.

On that day, I personally conducted a demonstration in a Kia Niro EV, widely used as an electric taxi. The Automobile Safety Research Institute advised that when a suspected SUA situation occurs, using the 'Electronic Parking Brake (EPB)' button is the most effective method. While driving at 50 km/h, I tried pulling the EPB button with my finger without lifting my foot off the accelerator pedal. A warning sound 'beep beep beep beep' sounded, and the speed gradually decreased. The effectiveness of using the EPB was the same even at a high speed of 100 km/h. The vehicle stopped in about 4 seconds. It was impressive that the car could be stopped with just one finger even though the foot kept pressing the accelerator pedal.

The Automobile Safety Research Institute recommends that if sudden unintended acceleration is suspected, the gear should be shifted to neutral (N) and the EPB should be used. The EPB is an electronic button that replaced the traditional mechanical parking brakes (side or foot brakes). It is usually found near the gear lever close to the driver’s right hand or below the left side of the steering wheel, marked with a '(ⓟ)' symbol.

Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) [Photo by Korea Automobile Testing & Research Institute]

The Automobile Safety Research Institute conducted tests on about 360 vehicle models sold domestically. The test results confirmed that simply using the EPB in suspected sudden acceleration situations can completely stop the vehicle. Although placing the gear in neutral (N) is more effective, in emergencies, pulling the (ⓟ) button with a finger alone can stop the car.

If the foot brake does not respond, drivers may panic. However, remembering that there is a separate parking brake besides the main brake can help effectively handle urgent situations. However, when using the EPB, the finger must continuously pull the button until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. Releasing the button too soon will disengage the braking mode.

On the 8th, at the Vehicle Safety Research Institute's driving test site in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, a demonstration of how to respond to unintended sudden acceleration situations using a Niro EV was conducted.
[Photo by Vehicle Safety Research Institute]

Additionally, the institute advises against using mechanical parking brakes (side or foot brakes) operated by hand or foot in emergencies. While the EPB is designed to gradually reduce speed, sudden application of physical force with mechanical brakes can be dangerous. Applying strong braking force suddenly to a rapidly moving vehicle can cause it to spin or overturn.

Turning off the engine while driving is also not effective in emergencies. To forcibly turn off the engine, the button must be pressed for up to 5 seconds or pressed 3 to 5 times for 3 seconds each, depending on the vehicle model. Park Ki-ok, a research fellow at the Serious Accident Investigation Division of the Automobile Safety Research Institute, said, "In emergencies, the process of turning the engine off and on can cause confusion," adding, "Simply shifting the gear to neutral and activating the EPB is sufficient for emergency braking."