The Role of Pedal Configuration in Unintended-Acceleration and Pedal-Error Accidents

Abstract

This study examined the hypothesis that unintended-acceleration (UA) incidents, as well as other accidents caused by a foot pedal error or misapplication (PE), are related to the design of the pedal cluster. Using the North Carolina Accident Report Database, we evaluated the narrative descriptions of over 200,000 accidents to determine which accidents involved either a UA or PE. Three measures of the pedal cluster--the distance of the right edge of the brake pedal from the steering wheel centerline, the horizontal separation between the accelerator and brake pedal, and the vertical separation (the plane perpendicular to the brake-pedal face) between the accelerator and brake pedal--were evaluated to determine if the pedal cluster could be linked to a pedal-related accident. We found no differences in the pedal measurements of vehicles involved in accidents when compared with their non-accident peers. Therefore, there is no support for the notion that pedal-cluster design is a factor in pedal-error accidents.

Human Factors in Sudden Acceleration Incidents

“…The analysis of accident frequency as a function of vehicle class and registration years revealed that the vehicle characteristics were unrelated to pedal misapplications. These findings are consistent with earlier work that compared the risk of pedal error and SAIs in vehicles with disparate accelerator-brake separation and pedal characteristics (Trachtman et al, 2005). While the current study did not examine the specific relationship between pedal-configuration and pedal error risk, the current findings fail to support the notion that passenger vehicles within a specific class or with specific characteristics are more or less likely to be involved in an accident involving unwanted acceleration due to a pedal error.…”

Understanding the Automotive Pedal Usage and Foot Movement Characteristics of Older Drivers

“…Trachtman, Schmidt and Young (2005) investigated the pedal configuration's role in PAEs . Also using the NC crash database, they identified vehicles that were involved in unintended accelerations and PAEs, as well as peer vehicles (vehicles with similar size, cost, etc.…”