>>The Toyota recall for sticky gas pedals has been striking me as fishy for a while. Now Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is recommending that people who own these vehicles not drive them at all until taking them to a Toyota dealership for service.
>>
>>http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/03/news/companies/dot_toyota_lahood/index.htm?hpt=T1
>>
>>Is this an unwarranted conspiracy theory on my part? It just seems awfully convenient for the domestic automakers with their business in the toilet and Toyota being the #1 manufacturer. They wouldn't be ginning this story up behind the scenes, would they?
>
>It does seem kind of odd.
>
>It seems to change from day to day as well.
>
>We got a recall notice on our Prius last fall re: the floor mat causing the gas pedal to stick.
>
>Now most of the other Toyotas are recalled because of a defective gas pedal (not floor mat related) that can stick. But the Prius was just a floormat issue?
>
>Now the Prius's are suspected of having brake issues.
>
>Through it all, our Prius works like a charm and we intend to get another one for me (when interest rates are viable).
>
>We also know how to put a car in neutral if the throttle sticks.
>
>I'm assuming people who are having wrecks have to sign off from whomever they are texting at the time and then try to 'text a friend' to find out what to do. this can be time consuming in an emergency.

I believe truckers are now prohibited from texting while driving. Long overdue (although something the trucking industry continues to fight tooth and nail). It should be prohibited for passenger driver vehicles as well IMO. The accident statistics are alarming.