Car Floating in the Air "Move Over Airplanes"... Is Sudden Acceleration Just Someone Else's Problem?

Professor Kim Pil-su, Department of Future Automotive Engineering at Daelim University
"Introduction of Shutdown Function, Installation of Black Box on Pedal Side"

Recently, an electric taxi driving on a road in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, collided with a traffic light and a roadside tree, reigniting concerns over sudden unintended acceleration. According to dashcam footage from nearby vehicles, the taxi's wheels were lifted off the ground due to the high speed it could not control. The driver, in his 60s, claims the accident was caused by suspected sudden acceleration.

According to a YTN report, the accident occurred in the early morning of the 18th on a road in Suwon. The electric taxi driven by driver A, in his 60s, suddenly sped up and crashed into a traffic light and a roadside tree.

Sudden unintended acceleration suspected in Suwon incident. / Twitter capture

The dashcam footage shows that the traffic light was completely destroyed to the point of being unrecognizable from the impact with the vehicle, and the roadside tree behind it was broken and fell. The area was engulfed in thick smoke, and the road was littered with vehicle debris, turning into a chaotic scene.

A, who has 37 years of taxi driving experience, was seriously injured in the accident, suffering broken arms and ribs. He told the media, "(At the time of the accident) the light turned green, so I moved forward, but the car accelerated. It was like 'planes, step aside.' Even pressing the brake didn’t work," claiming suspicion of sudden unintended acceleration.

Suspected sudden acceleration accidents occur repeatedly over time. In December last year, in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, a woman in her 60s experienced a suspected sudden acceleration accident while driving an SUV with her 12-year-old grandson, resulting in the grandson’s death.

Suspected sudden acceleration accidents are particularly difficult to prepare for because they can happen anytime and anywhere, causing drivers to express anxiety. Moreover, there has not been a single case in South Korea where manufacturers have been held responsible for such accidents, making it difficult for victims to receive compensation even if an accident occurs.

The scene during the suspected sudden unintended acceleration incident in Suwon./Twitter

Professor Kim Pil-su of the Department of Future Automotive at Daelim University advocated for the introduction of a shutdown function that stops the vehicle if a problem occurs as a way to prevent sudden acceleration.

Professor Kim said, "The U.S. and Japan have started to implement software called a kill program. It shuts down all devices and functions when there is an abnormality in the car," adding, "If this is installed, it can prevent sudden acceleration and significantly reduce suspected sudden acceleration accidents."

There is also a proposal to install a dashcam inside the vehicle that records the pedals and the driver’s feet to prove that the driver pressed the brake but the car did not stop at the time of the accident. Professor Kim said, "By directly filming the feet and showing the time on the dashcam, it can serve as direct evidence during trials."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.