Ford Territory cruise control.

[koan]

Any one see the story on the (AUS) TV News about a Territory with a stuck on cruise control?

It appears that a young man, 22 had a terrifying (!) drive of 50km on Mebourne's freeways at 80kmh.

He called the police when he realised the cruise control was stuck on and they eventually got him stopped before he ran out of freeway, not sure how.

The police representative interviewed said they considered spike strips, having him run up the back of a truck or forcing him into the guard rail.

Doesn't Ford Territory come with an ignition switch?

koan

[Big_Richard]

Any one see the story on the (AUS) TV News about a Territory with a stuck on cruise control?

It appears that a young man, 22 had a terrifying (!) drive of 50km on Mebourne's freeways at 80kmh.

He called the police when he realised the cruise control was stuck on and they eventually got him stopped before he ran out of freeway, not sure how.

The police representative interviewed said they considered spike strips, having him run up the back of a truck or forcing him into the guard rail.

Doesn't Ford Territory come with an ignition switch?

koan

sounds like a load of shit to me or the guy was a moron, my brother has the turbo ghia, they don't have a stalk or anything like that its just steering wheel mounted buttons etc. They have an ignition key, a transmission selector lever, hand brake and a brake pedal. Either one of them or a combination could of stopped it.




They use fly by wire like most modern new cars, i was worried when the day would come when there would be the inevitable computer glitch that caused something like this to happen.

even so, shift it to neutral, let it bounce off the rev limmiter and bring it to a stop using the brakes, turn car off - not rocket science, but clearly it was for this joker.

[oscar]

If this guy figured out the key could be turned he probably would've removed the key as well, turned the steering wheel, activated the steering lock and then ploughed into a concrete barrier.   Apart from the foot brake, hand brake, a gearstick that can be moved into neutral, they also come with a driver's door that can be opened at any speed to jump out of  Why didn't the police tell him that.

Ford electrics aside, I'm with you PB.  I reckon this guy went past a speed camera and came up with a grand story of the CC being stuck.  As for me, I would've rung the police saying "dudes, there's a bomb on my Terri and I have to keep it above 80 or it'll blow up, dudes."

[Big_Richard]

i can just imagine the little weed, i bet he cant even change a tire and half the time he was screaming and crying with his eyes closed - he has no business driving a large vehicle.

Harden the F. Up.

[koan]

I don't want be judgemental (but I will anyway), he did appear to be rather giggly when interviewed after the ordeal.

koan

[TJ 450]

That sounds like a stereotypical scenario whereby the driver sues the manufacturer for marketing a non-failsafe product.

Tim

[oscar]

Just like to clarify it was an Explorer.    http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/16/2773868.htm?section=justin
Phew, sighs of relief.  Our Terri, had issues with the CC working let alone jamming on. 

[motec6.9]

I agree what a loser i own a territory ghia 6 speed awd and just touching the brakes or clicking the activation button on the steering wheel turns off thr criuse control let alone just turning the car off by the way the car in photo is a ford explorer known as a ford exploder

[koan]

Apologies to Territory owners, just relaying what I saw and read.

I've seen the odd incident that I've later seen and read about, never has the reporting been at all close to what actually happened.

koan

[nathan]

ha ha oscar, hilarious.
i was thinking the same thing. however, if he tried to jump out the door, im sure the man watching him would have blown the door up - wildcat!

[Big_Richard]

explorer?

It's American made, not Australian made, I suspect the territory has far superior build quality than those things, plus, not rushed to market with bugger all in house reliability testing like most things mass made in the USA.

Having said that, i do prefere the workmanship of small American business's run by owners, they actually have pride in their work, unlike alot of Aussies.

[koan]

More in the paper today.

Apparently he was asked to turn the ignition off but couldn't move the key. Similarly when asked to put it in neutral the button wouldn't push.

Is this some sort of interlock thing gone wrong or what?

koan

[Big_Richard]

More in the paper today.

Apparently he was asked to turn the ignition off but couldn't move the key. Similarly when asked to put it in neutral the button wouldn't push.

Is this some sort of interlock thing gone wrong or what?

koan

modern cars have a "feature" where you have to have the foot on the brake pedal before you can press the selector lever button, its feasible that this system also prevents the button being pressed when the car is in motion, but that seems utterly retarded from a safety perspective.

[Burty]

Could all be BSh#t , like the chik chik boom girl ?? Young fella looking for his 15mins of fame???

[koan]

Could all be BSh#t , like the chik chik boom girl ?? Young fella looking for his 15mins of fame???

Yes, that possibility occurred to me when I first saw the story, trusting soul aren't I.

Will be interesting to see if anything more is reported.

koan