NHTSA Complaint #10461990 — 2012 FORD EDGE

DRIVER: 83 YEAR OLD WOMAN... NEW AUTO: FORD EDGE 2012, NO INJURIES, VEHICLE DAMAGE APPROX $2000.00 NO PROPERTY DAMAGE..... PROBLEM: LADY STEPPED ON ACCELERATOR RATHER THAN BRAKE.... REASON: THE BRAKE PEDAL AT REST IS HIGHER THAN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT REST. THE DRIVER IS USED TO AN OLDER (CHRYSLER 2009) VEHICLE WHICH THERE WAS NOT AN APPRECIABLE DIFFERENCE IN PEDAL HEIGHT, STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THINKING SHE WAS STEPPING ON THE BRAKE.... RESOLUTION: DISCUSSING THE INCIDENT, THE WOMAN WAS SEATED IN THE FORD EDGE AND ASKED TO SEE IF SHE FELT A DIFFERENCE IN HEIGHT OF THE BRAKE VS ACCELERATOR PEDALS. SHE DID, AND HAS SINCE PRACTICED GOING BETWEEN PEDALS, LIFTING HER FOOT TO ACCESS THE BRAKE, RATHER THAN MERELY SLIDING HER FOOT TO THE LEFT........ IT IS THIS WRITERS OPINION THAT MANY OF THE UNEXPLAINED ACCIDENTS WHERE A PERSON, ESPECIALLY WHEN AN ELDERLY PERSON IS DRIVING, HAS MISTOOK THE ACCELERATOR FOR THE BRAKE IS DUE TO THE HEIGHT OF PEDAL DIFFERENCE. ................ IT MIGHT BE WISE TO MAKE AWARE THIS PROBLEM TO MANUFACTURERS AND THE PUBLIC. ........ THANKS *TR