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Panel of Scientific Experts to Study Unintended Acceleration Causes

Earlier this year, the federal administration announced that it would ask scientists from the National Academy of Sciences to study the causes of sudden and unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. This week, the National Academy of Sciences, convened a panel consisted of high-ranking engineers, auto safety experts and scientists to study these causes.

The panel will have 30 members, and will be led by Dr. Louis Lanzerotti of the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Other prominent members of the panel, include Nicole Nason, the former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The panel has been convened to study the possible causes of acceleration in Toyota vehicles. The panel will look at the electronic systems not just in Toyota vehicles, but across all vehicles that come with such technology.

Much of the spotlight around the acceleration has centered on the electronic systems in these vehicles. Electronic auto systems have become more and more popular in modern cars, although Toyota vehicles contain more software than other cars. Using technology to aid automotive processes has become a natural progression of the major advances made in auto safety technology. However, there is the still very little-known about how these electronic systems could possibly place occupants in danger.

For instance there have been theories that focus on the effect of space radiation on electronics in vehicles. This radiation has been confirmed to impact consumer goods and cell phones. Many scientists believe that minute particles of radiation can also interfere with the workings of electronics in vehicles, causing a possible malfunctioning.

The panel will begin its investigations in July, and is due to be completed within 15 months. At the end of the review, California accident attorneys, the federal administration and the panel will expect a clear understanding of whether the electronic systems in these vehicles have played a part in the sudden acceleration, and if so, the nature of the interference that seems to cause the malfunctioning.

The panel is part of the administration’s ongoing probe into the vehicles. A large number of theories have been thrown out ever since a fatal accident in August last year that killed four people in California. Since that fatal accident, auto safety experts have come up with various theories for the sudden and unintended acceleration. These range from incompatible and defective floor mats to defective gas pedals. However, most of the scrutiny has been focused on the electronic systems in these vehicles.

It’s very important that the federal administration and Toyota find out what exactly is causing this acceleration as quickly as possible. The problem has been seen not just in Toyota vehicles, but also in other models of cars manufactured by other manufacturers, including Ford and General Motors. More and more cars come equipped with sophisticated technologies to aid automotive processes. If there are any issues with these systems that could affect occupant safety, then we need to get to the bottom of these as quickly as possible.

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