Driving a Lexus RX450H on the very busy A34 towards Southampton the vehicle threw up a warning on the dash (initially ICS failure) and immediately went into limp mode. No response from the accelerator as I gradually slowed from about 60 mph down to around 25.

With not enough power or speed to make a safe manoeuvre, from the outside lane to the next refuge or layby, I had to cross fast moving traffic and mount the kerb onto the grass verge - barely wide enough for the car.

I tried turning everything off and waiting and hoping for some sort of reset but it didn't. Diesel engine would start but wouldn't rev over tickover. The hybrid motor would move the vehicle but wouldn't deliver enough power to pull away safely.

I assume designers do look at real world possibilities and safety on the road, but seem to favour protection of the vehicle rather than the people in it.

(ICS = Intelligent Clearance Sonar)

 

 

Would you rather it threw a rod and cracked the block sending oil on to the exhaust leaving you in a moving burning vehicle but with power a bit longer instead?

As far as I can see, ICS is just a system to prevent bumper scuffs.  It doesn't seem to be anything to do with the engine or pedestrian safety.  Unless that was just a coincidental warning.

I do also wonder whether all of Rays cars are coming from the same retailer, having presumably been parked in a compound for weeks with the batteries going flat?  

There's a part time trader near me where the cars are frequently having to be jump started or the alarms keep going off.  I'm sure the buyers are mostly local (nothing interesting or unusual) so will find the car dead again the morning after getting it home.