Brake-Throttle Override Becomes The New Standard

With Hyundai’s recent announcement that brake throttle override, which it calls brake pedal throttle override capability, is now standard on all 2012 Hyundai models effective with May production, consumers may be curious about what this safety technology is all about, as well as what other automakers have it and why.

In essence, brake-throttle override technology lets drivers control a vehicle’s speed and stop it in case of unintended acceleration. With Hyundai’s system, any brake pedal input by the driver has top priority in all driving situations and overrides any throttle inputs.

The 'why' is fairly straightforward. Brake-throttle override, although called by different names, is an additional “failsafe” safety technology. Beyond that, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that is posted on its website (a 98-page PDF document). The proposed brake-throttle override regulations would go into effect September 1 two years from the date of the final rule.

The NHTSA’s proposed brake-throttle override regulation would set minimum requirements for existing as well as future light brake-throttle override systems. Based on the agency’s experience with them, existing systems will meet the proposed standard without modification. In the event that some systems do require changes to meet the proposed standard, the NHTSA believes those changes would be minimal.