August 15, 2008

I've owned and operated conveyorized car washes for 41years and estimate that my business has conservatively washed in excess of 41 million vehicles.  Over this period I have experienced 4 sudden acceleration incidents, whether caused by human error or other undetermined factors.  Of these 4 incidents, 3 (75.0%) involved Jeep Grand Cherokees and 1 (25.0%) involved a vehicle other than a Jeep Grand Cherokee.  1 (25.0%) of these SUA incidents occurred at the entrance to the car wash and 3 (75.0%) occurred at the exit of the car wash.  2 incidents (50.0% were reported to my insurance carrier/involved insurance claims and 2 (50.0% were not reported to my insurance carrier/did not involve an insurance claim.

% at entrance of the car wash: 25%

September 20, 2008
I've owned and operated conveyorized car washes for 50 years and estimate that my business(es) have conservatively washed in excess of 10,000,000 vehicles.  Over this period I have experienced 2 sudden acceleration incidents, whether caused by human error or other undetermined factors.  Of these 2 incidents, 100% involved Jeep Grand Cherokees and 0% involved a vehicle other than a Jeep Grand Cherokee.  None of these SUA incidents occurred at the entrance to the car wash and 100% (all) occurred at the exit of the car wash.  1 incidents (50%) was reported to my insurance carrier/involved an insurance claim and 1 (50%) was not reported to my insurance carrier, did not involve an insurance claim.

 

Summary:  

Total number of SUA incidents: 2

% involving Jeep Grand Cherokees: 100%

% at entrance of the car wash: 0%

% at exit-end of the car wash: 100% 

% reported to insurance carrier: 50%

 

Mark Goddard

Supersonic Car Wash

Ogden, Utah 

 

 

(date), 2008
I've owned and operated conveyorized car washes for ____ years and estimate that my business(es) have conservatively washed in excess of ____ vehicles.  Over this period I have experienced ____ sudden acceleration incidents, whether caused by human error or other undetermined factors.  Of these ____ incidents, ____  (0.0%) involved Jeep Grand Cherokees and ____ (0.0%) involved a vehicle other than a Jeep Grand Cherokee.  ____ of these SUA incidents occurred at the entrance to the car wash and ____ (0.0%) occurred at the exit of the car wash.  ____ incidents (0.0%) were reported to my insurance carrier/involved insurance claims and ____ (0.0%) were not reported to my insurance carrier, did not involve an insurance claim.

% at entrance of the car wash: ___%

 

 

Why do the Jeep SUA incidents always occur at exit-end of the carwash and not the entrance-end?  I am not aware of a single Jeep SUA incident that has occurred at the entrance-end of the carwash.  If human error, employee negligence and/or peddle misapplication, as many are quick to cite, wouldn't human error be found at equal rates at both the entrance and exit-ends of the carwash?  Wouldn't employees be somewhat equally negligent from one carwash to another when you look at the entire conveyor carwash universe particularly as they are largely performing the identical tasks when loading and off-loading vehicles from the carwash conveyor?  What about the numerous incidents where the vehicle owners are riding through the car wash (in their own vehicle) and have a SUA incident after going through the car wash?

 

PEDAL MISAPPLICATION Texas A&M University (Texas Transportation Institute) performed a study for NHTSA in the early 1990s that strongly disputes the pedal misapplication theory that DiamlerChrysler largely banks on to this day as their defense.  This study is referenced in the 2002 NHTSA defect petition which surprisingly was denied -  but NHTSA, as you know, is a governmental agency with the typical political influences that accompany all governmental agencies.

 

Published on February 13, 2003, Page 1, Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX)

Woman injured in carwash crash
Source: DEANNA BOYDStar-Telegram Staff Writer
FORT WORTH--A 37-year-old carwash employee drying a Honda was critically injured Wednesday when she was struck and dragged by an out-of-control Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by another employee. The woman, a Fort Worth resident who has worked at the Colonial Car Wash and Lube Center at 4959 South Drive W. since July, was taken to Harris Methodist Fort Worth hospital. Her name was not released. Witnesses said an employee was driving the Jeep out of the carwash bay when it Click here for complete article