UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION

Toyota Executive Says Recall Might 'Not Totally' Solve Accelerator Problems.

I love the term, "unintended sudden acceleration." I will have to muse on this some more later, but for now, I am (totally) reminded of a dialogue....

 
JACK  
On a long enough time line, the 
survival rate for everyone drops to 
zero.
 
 
Two TECHNICIANS lead Jack to the BURNT-OUT SHELL of a 
WRECKED AUTOMOBILE.  Jack sets down his briefcase, opens it 
and starts to make notes on a CLIPBOARDED FORM.

 
JACK  
I'm a recall coordinator.  My job is 
to apply the formula.  It's a story 
problem.

 
JACK  
A new car built by my company leaves 
somewhere traveling at 60 miles per 
hour.  The rear differential locks up.

 
JACK 
The car crashes and burns with 
everyone trapped inside.  Now: do we 
initiate a recall?

 
JACK 
Take the number of vehicles in the 
field, (A), and multiply it by the 
probable rate of failure, (B), then 
multiply the result by the average 
out-of-court settlement, (C).  A 
times B times C equals X...

 
CUT TO:
     INT. AIRPLANE CABIN - MOVING DOWN RUNWAY 
Jack is speaking to the BUSINESSWOMAN next to him.

 
JACK 
If X is less than the cost of a 
recall, we don't do one.

 
BUSISNESS WOMAN 
Are there a lot of these kinds of 
accidents?

 
JACK 
Oh, you wouldn't believe.

 
BUSINESS WOMAN 
... Which... car company do you work 
for?

 
JACK 
A major one....