Prevent a Runaway Car with Floor Mat Care: Tips from a North Carolina Toyota Dealer

Jan 24, 2013

Have you ever heard nightmare stories of cars that don’t stop when the driver hits the brakes? Or cars that speed up even when the driver removes their foot from the accelerator? These are referred to as runaway cars, and are extremely dangerous to the driver and everyone on the roads around them. One of the most common causes of runaway cars is unsecured floor mats. Here are some tips from a North Carolina Toyota dealer to preventing runaway cars:

Floor Mat Security

Most people don’t put much thought into their vehicle’s floor mats, but an informal study shows that 25% of runaway cars are a result of problems caused by floor mats. The study was published on Edmunds.com and indicated that unsecured floor mats can get lodged under the brake pedal, preventing the driver from stopping the car – or they can get stuck over the gas pedal. Both situations can result in a runaway car.

How to Prevent Runaway Cars

The best way to prevent a problem with a runaway car is to ensure your driver’s side floor mat is secured to the floor. Get in the habit of checking it whenever you put gas in your car. If the little hooks have come loose on either side of the floor or the mat is not staying put, it’s time to replace it.

Don’t layer floor mats on top of each other, either. If you are getting a new floor mat, make sure to remove your old one before putting the new one in. Layering floor mats increases the risks for the mats to get stuck under the brake pedal or over the gas pedal.