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Women more likely to mistake gas pedal for brakes

LA Times -- Women are more likely than men to mistake the gas pedal for the brakes, according to federal safety regulators.

But before all those male drivers out there smugly stereotype women as bad drivers, men are more likely to be involved in an accident, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

“The most consistent finding across data sources was the striking overrepresentation of females in pedal misapplication crashes, relative to their involvement in all types of crashes,” the agency said in a report supporting its proposal this week to require automakers to make brake-throttle override systems standard in all vehicles.

The override systems help drivers regain control when a vehicle accelerates suddenly. Analysts say the override will help stop many instances of sudden

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Submitted Apr 14, 2012 By: angel4me

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hatmanOR Sophomore Author Oregon Posts:110 Points:164,235 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 18, 2012 11:38:10 PM Ignore hatmanOR Report Abuse no comment.
crep1291 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:2,587 Points:481,455 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 1:07:44 PM Ignore crep1291 Report Abuse They should offer joystick control for all vehicles. Younger drivers would certainly have less control problems!
PurplepassionNC All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:838 Points:157,310 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 12:37:10 AM Ignore PurplepassionNC Report Abuse Thanks for the alert. I will keep this crazy article in mind tomorrow. I hope I won't be confused.
BluWahoo Champion Author Pensacola Posts:3,119 Points:380,665 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 10:59:53 PM Ignore BluWahoo Report Abuse women or men it shouldn't matter. It's the age of these older drivers that can't figure out the gas from the brakes. Just happened in Palm Coast FL...76 yr old woman hit the gas instead of the brakes and plowed into the front entrance of a Publix Supermarket...AND...injuring several people. That would be an awful way to get hurt...pushing your cart around in the store and BAM...you hit the floor for some unknown reason and wake up in the hospital.
esq262 Champion Author Asheville Posts:2,912 Points:650,440 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 10:59:10 PM Ignore esq262 Report Abuse Not my wife. (but she is right beside me as I write this)
PathfinderSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:9,526 Points:1,832,615 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 4:35:05 PM Ignore PathfinderSC Report Abuse This is one to stay away from.
clpassenubye Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,359 Points:755,355 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 2:01:18 PM Ignore clpassenubye Report Abuse not surprised
schatzila Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,959 Points:1,018,570 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 1:37:52 PM Ignore schatzila Report Abuse so what, who cares?
johntxx Champion Author Texas Posts:2,795 Points:618,270 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 12:30:06 PM Ignore johntxx Report Abuse "Driver inattention and distraction also were common contributing factors across all age groups, the agency said." Inattention & distraction. Maybe the reason is multi-tasking. From Are women really better at multi-tasking? : "It's official: Women really are better than men at juggling more than one task at once... ...So if I'm a woman, multitasking makes me more efficient? Actually, probably not. There is evidence that multitasking is a drag on productivity for pretty much everyone, regardless of gender." [Edited by: johntxx at 4/15/2012 12:32:24 PM EST]
58salty Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:6,645 Points:631,840 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 11:13:07 AM Ignore 58salty Report Abuse Ya think?
Norm10 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,342 Points:162,925 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 10:19:29 AM Ignore Norm10 Report Abuse This is news!
JR57CA All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:788 Points:326,125 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 9:55:00 AM Ignore JR57CA Report Abuse Insufficient data. Pretty hard to mix up a wide pedal for a skinny vertical pedal. Sounds like they are still trying to create logic for cars spontaneously accelerating, since there still is no explanation for it. Having been in a car which did this, I can tell you it has nothing to do with pressing an accelerator pedal.
el_fr Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,347 Points:746,650 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 9:06:27 AM Ignore el_fr Report Abuse What about age, instead? Not gender
diamondsPA Veteran Author Pittsburgh Posts:351 Points:93,845 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 9:00:55 AM Ignore diamondsPA Report Abuse is he federal safety regulator that made this statement a man?
gandalfthegrey1 Champion Author Houston Posts:1,184 Points:384,785 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 8:54:09 AM Ignore gandalfthegrey1 Report Abuse Gender issues aside, this is nuts. A driver is a driver. Be a responsibile driver and you probably won't have a problem. That doesn't mean that some idiot might not hit you. It doesn't matter how many gadgets they put in a car - which always raises the cost - no one is going to prevent every accident everywhere all the time. It is NOT a perfect world and humans are not going to change that fact. Get over it.
JCI46009IN Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,129 Points:439,570 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 8:48:53 AM Ignore JCI46009IN Report Abuse Boy could I get in a lot of hot water IF I commented on this one !!!! :)
Cashless Champion Author Akron Posts:3,530 Points:736,255 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 8:46:25 AM Ignore Cashless Report Abuse Thanks for the information.
bicycle1966 All-Star Author Akron Posts:605 Points:404,090 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 8:26:37 AM Ignore bicycle1966 Report Abuse I wonder if age is also a factor
bullet226 Champion Author Toronto Posts:2,716 Points:534,915 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 8:21:26 AM Ignore bullet226 Report Abuse Yikes
SavingInNC Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,798 Points:1,095,415 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 8:02:31 AM Ignore SavingInNC Report Abuse Wow
SUNOIL Champion Author Toledo Posts:5,255 Points:1,927,955 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 7:04:42 AM Ignore SUNOIL Report Abuse This just doesn't make sense to me that your sex would make you a higher risk for this.
ReddevilNO Champion Author New Orleans Posts:3,381 Points:582,890 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 6:53:57 AM Ignore ReddevilNO Report Abuse That is Bull, so men don't,is that how it is?
OTISFL Champion Author Pensacola Posts:4,620 Points:867,765 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 6:37:53 AM Ignore OTISFL Report Abuse Blame everything on women! I've witnessed totally crazy male drivers.
Rockyguitar Champion Author Tampa Posts:2,572 Points:1,204,520 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 5:34:24 AM Ignore Rockyguitar Report Abuse What the hell is a brake-throttle override system? If I accelerate quicky on the interstate on-ramp, will this thing apply the brakes???
gs7101 Champion Author San Antonio Posts:5,533 Points:389,120 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 3:54:48 AM Ignore gs7101 Report Abuse Women drivers!
Amplion Champion Author Oregon Posts:6,777 Points:1,867,010 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 3:39:58 AM Ignore Amplion Report Abuse NOT NEWS
kitty1750 Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo Posts:2,199 Points:470,675 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 3:30:59 AM Ignore kitty1750 Report Abuse Oh please......
Gazas Champion Author Oakland Posts:2,262 Points:448,850 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 3:24:00 AM Ignore Gazas Report Abuse Interesting.
anascom Champion Author Hamilton Posts:1,593 Points:553,115 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 2:21:42 AM Ignore anascom Report Abuse i guess female members of gasbuddy would feel offended by this article!
Jeff4U Champion Author Atlanta Posts:8,767 Points:1,854,320 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 2:20:25 AM Ignore Jeff4U Report Abuse At least they can't blame men for putting on make-up while driving, except for a few in L.A.
1mrtym Veteran Author Houston Posts:457 Points:92,475 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 1:47:31 AM Ignore 1mrtym Report Abuse ok
BJWI Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:6,420 Points:738,275 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 1:33:24 AM Ignore BJWI Report Abuse What is that little doohickey? Oh, so that is the brake!
dave27johnson Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,790 Points:410,260 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 1:33:17 AM Ignore dave27johnson Report Abuse There are "about 15 pedal misapplication crashes per month in the United States, and that the drivers in almost two-thirds of such crashes were women." This is too small a sample to draw conclusions about women drivers. According to the NSC, there were about 211 million reported accidents in 2009. NSC
ifallsguy Champion Author Minnesota Posts:5,180 Points:1,553,670 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 1:05:52 AM Ignore ifallsguy Report Abuse the override system should have been in place years ago.
ExplorerWA Champion Author Washington Posts:4,089 Points:799,120 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 12:48:45 AM Ignore ExplorerWA Report Abuse What an important study.
lonewolf_947 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:1,287 Points:578,560 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 12:47:49 AM Ignore lonewolf_947 Report Abuse Very interesting....... I wonder how they came up with that research........
1momsunshine Champion Author Ottawa Posts:5,500 Points:1,002,530 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 12:47:14 AM Ignore 1momsunshine Report Abuse NOT
mpg611 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,345 Points:571,795 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 12:38:35 AM Ignore mpg611 Report Abuse I cant believe someone's time and money was wasted on this crap.
alterman156 Champion Author New York Posts:7,495 Points:1,558,725 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 12:35:03 AM Ignore alterman156 Report Abuse Men have more accidents than women and are more likely to have serious accidents. [Edited by: alterman156 at 4/15/2012 12:35:25 AM EST]
Caduceus26 Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:3,906 Points:764,335 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 12:26:08 AM Ignore Caduceus26 Report Abuse There are "lies, damn lies, and statistics". - Benjamin Disraeli
StArrow68 Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,268 Points:1,363,190 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Apr 15, 2012 12:22:01 AM Ignore StArrow68 Report Abuse Face it, by 76 years old the population of women is far greater than the population of men and so everything they do will show that more of them do it. Stats can be used to show many things and some of them might be true.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,105 Points:1,624,380 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 11:56:48 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse You read a bit too much into the "across date sources" statement from NHTSA. Those generalized statements leave much to the imagination of bureaucrats that love adding more gadgets to vehicles in the name of safety. I believe better driver education for all would make a bigger difference in improving our safety on the nation's roadways.
davenles Champion Author Texas Posts:3,206 Points:720,610 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 11:51:15 PM Ignore davenles Report Abuse It seems only the older folks make the news wih these types of mishaps.
feldos Champion Author Florida Posts:2,640 Points:550,500 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 11:47:32 PM Ignore feldos Report Abuse aquarinut "Stupid!!!! Article has same mentality as some redneck non intellectual that is using gender because they lack the mental fortitude to prove their point!!!" *************************************************************************** I guess reading isn't your strong suit. It looks like the study was pretty straight forward. The breakdown. Accidents occur....police or insurance reports get done and the HTSA collects the data. The data showed that “The most consistent finding across data sources was the striking overrepresentation of females in pedal misapplication crashes, relative to their involvement in all types of crashes,” the agency said in a report" (This means the percentage of women in "pedal misapplication" accidents was greater than the percentage of women in all accidnets.
roadrunnin Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,760 Points:566,955 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 11:43:00 PM Ignore roadrunnin Report Abuse did they mean little old ladies perhaps?
aquarinut Champion Author British Columbia Posts:1,628 Points:436,855 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 11:23:47 PM Ignore aquarinut Report Abuse Stupid!!!! Article has same mentality as some redneck non intellectual that is using gender because they lack the mental fortitude to prove their point!!! ANYONE can go through a sh!t happens moment... young, old, male, female, undetermined... and especially the author of the article. REALLY disappointed that this media outlet would post something like this, especially at this point in time in our history! Should be put in Guinness as one of the biggest blunders of the century!
USCCRN Sophomore Author Long Island Posts:145 Points:104,240 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 11:03:36 PM Ignore USCCRN Report Abuse This is an interesting statistic. I wonder how they achieved their research results?
babugp Veteran Author Philadelphia Posts:339 Points:76,685 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:59:35 PM Ignore babugp Report Abuse ok
CVA19 Champion Author Salem Posts:2,393 Points:611,200 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:56:37 PM Ignore CVA19 Report Abuse Instead of further regulation on an entire industry and more things to go wrong for the competent driver and consumer, how about identifying the drivers with deficient skills--men or women. Train them and assess them; if they can't demonstrate competency, pull their license--it is, after all, a privilege.
schatzila Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,959 Points:1,018,570 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:40:37 PM Ignore schatzila Report Abuse I noticed the aggressive drivers are younger (-45) women.