I contend that the floormat fiasco is and always was a smokescreen intended to cover up the real problem. A couple of weeks ago they attributed the sudden acceleration to "moisture and dirt" buildup in the linkage assembly". They claim a metal rod will fix that problem but I have my doubts.
Regarding the Pruis, Toyota says now that it has fixed the models sold in the last couple of months, but "is figuring out how to notify purchasers of the cars before January, 2010". Uh, how about a recall notice? This is not rocket science nor is it something which has never happened to other manufacturers, so Toyota's inability to do what's right mystifies me, unless they've gotten big heads from their success and think they can shove their way through this like the US manufacturers used to do.
When I learned to drive we were always told to pump the brakes (and on old drum brake cars like my Dodges, Galaxies, Studebakers, etc) but with the invention and common application of antilock brakes constant and firm pressure is what's needed. Maybe a lot of people still don't realize that.
One of the front brake lines blew out on my '66 Polara and since it was a single reservoir master cylinder I had nothing left in that department. So I pulled the emergency brake handle and used that brake to slow the car so I could get it down into first gear. This happened while I was going into a sharp turn on an exit ramp with a stop sign at the top. And no, I wasn't able to stop at the sign. Point is, there was something I could do.
Could any of these folks simply turned the ignition switch off?