Near accident around Upper Pierce: A mystery

[Felipe]

in the light of fatal accidents and perhaps sometimes unexplained reasons, my friend related to me an incident last weekend he had while driving at upper pierce (former race track) at around 9pm.

 

It was a series of bends and he was driving his 1 month old vios with his wife. It was the shortest route for him thats why he used that road. As he was approaching the final bend leading to the exit, his brakes failed. He stepped the brake pedal vigorously but nothing happened. He couldnt use engine brake as its auto. He continued stepping and thankfully, just before he was about to hit a boulder, the ABS kicked in and the car came to a halt.

 

this incident certainly felt spooky to me. i've driven there a few times but it was daytime. But my friend said he once saw someone walking alone at night and his friend who was driving, missed the sighting. i've since heard quite abit about the place. i'm not superstitious but i guess those who drive there can take extra precaution and drive slowly. i guess my friend luckily drove rather slow that night and the electronics didnt fail. in any case, im just glad he escaped any injury.

[Tohto]

If the brake failed, how the ABS kick in

For auto gear, you still can use engine brake, just switch from 'D' to 3, to 2, to 1.

You will need this engine brake when go Genting.

[Ncp91]

I would like to know how the road that he took could be the shortest route to anywhere. The main road outside goes to the same exit as this Old Upper Thomson Road. If not going there to play car, then is either catch monkey or hanky panky.

[Carlover76]

Ya, I travel that road a few times and indeed there are many Hanky Panky inside, really admire their courage to do there. So far driving there, no problem even in the night.

[DarkLord]

 

I agreed with you on this!

[Kalaplus]

that road is not short. u take the outside road, confirm faster than inside. the outside road during non peak, can go above 100 easily. the inside if u try go above 100, very dangerous loh !

[Sony]

Did your friend went round the bend so many time and use his brake so much that it get heated up?

 

 

and if he's really driving slowly as you claim, why is there a need to brake? just steer away can liao mar.. it's not a deadend, right?

 

I'm confused. not sure abt others

[Sony]

so are they still using newspaper or dark solar film?

[Pentium]

If the brake failed, how the ABS kick in

For auto gear, you still can use engine brake, just switch from 'D' to 3, to 2, to 1.

You will need this engine brake when go Genting.

 

Can switch from "D" to "R" also....since life and death situation

[Carlover76]

Of course newspaper lah, cheaper mah.

[Mcff_1980]

go back borneo repair his vios brake la.. still got warranty

[Tohto]

I don't think you are able to engage 'R' when the car is moving. This is to protect the gear box.

[Sony]

last I know.. the gurang guni is paying a higher value for old newspaper..

 

so a one time investment on dark solar film or those blind would make sense in the long run

[Scoop]

" did your fren scored 1 too many times.. " he he

 

travelled that road many times.. would drive at leisure speed and on attack sometimes.. in the afternoon and night.. nothing happen. I even jog there.

 

there was once I remember we played chicken at night, switch off the lights and drive.. that was crazy but fun.

 

As for the recent accidents, hope others can learn that driving a heavy responsbility. Think twice before wanting to "speed" or "race"..

 

"POWER is Nothing without control"

[Kklim]

I live near there and take my kid to the reservoir park quite frequently (ride bike, fly kite, etc) but do not like driving along that road at night. Reasons:

- heavily forested so the road surface is moist at night

- loose soil and sand washed onto road by rain

- poor lighting

- some spots are used as illegal dump sites so there're big bags of trash (and maybe waste oil)

- don't like running over live monitor lizards and snakes, dead monkeys, and tree branches

- Upp Thomson Rd is faster and better lit

- risk of falling tree branches

- get a spooky feeling the few times I drove there at night

[Niteblu]

It was the shortest route for him thats why he used that road.

 

Glad to hear he escaped injury.

but as other MCFers might've mentioned.

 

Old thomson road is never the shortest route.

Unless he's planning to go somewhere off old thomson road?

 

It's old. it's dark. it's windy. it's slow.

[Icetrap]

in the light of fatal accidents and perhaps sometimes unexplained reasons, my friend related to me an incident last weekend he had while driving at upper pierce (former race track) at around 9pm.

 

It was a series of bends and he was driving his 1 month old vios with his wife. It was the shortest route for him thats why he used that road. As he was approaching the final bend leading to the exit, his brakes failed. He stepped the brake pedal vigorously but nothing happened. He couldnt use engine brake as its auto. He continued stepping and thankfully, just before he was about to hit a boulder, the ABS kicked in and the car came to a halt.

 

this incident certainly felt spooky to me. i've driven there a few times but it was daytime. But my friend said he once saw someone walking alone at night and his friend who was driving, missed the sighting. i've since heard quite abit about the place. i'm not superstitious but i guess those who drive there can take extra precaution and drive slowly. i guess my friend luckily drove rather slow that night and the electronics didnt fail. in any case, im just glad he escaped any injury.

 

How fast was he travelling? Was he pushing his VIOS? Depending on the brakepads, but it's easy to suffer from brakepad if the brakepads are overheating. The road leading to the exit is downslope and sandy, this will detoriate a car's braking efficiency. Along with stock (lousy) brakepads and stock (lousy)tyres, the braking distance will increase. If you are not convinced, try approaching the downhill slope at 120km/h (If you stupid/brave enough) and try to brake, you will know what I meant. People who frequent the road will know it too.

 

ABS will not kick in until the sensors detect the car tyres are losing grip and slipping. If he step on the brake peddle gently, the car will only slow down slightly. Without slamming his brakes, ABS should not kick in. Most likely, he only slammed the brakes till the very last min.

 

For autocar, if you are quick enough you can always downshift to 1,2 or L. This is not advisable as it will damage the gearbox in the long run. This is sort of "engine brake" for auto in case your brakes fails. The other thing is to pull the handbrake but Make sure you car is going straight. Please hold the steering wheel tight, you don't want to be doing drifts instead. Again this is not recommended unless emergencies.

 

Anyway he must be lying or new to the road. Taking the Main road outside is much faster then going through the upper pierce road inside. People going through the upper pierce road usually have a different agenda.

 

His brakes could be faded or maybe having an issue with his brake pump. Ask him to try braking on normal roads. If he is still having an issue, I strongly advise you to ask him to take his car back to Toyota or any mechanic. Never be stingy about Brakes and Tyres as it could cost or save your life.

Edited February 11, 2008 by Icetrap

[Mustank]

thats true....

 

myth busters busted that myth alreadi...bec they found out that it was impossible to engage into reverse gear while one is moving forward

 

how about manual cars?

 

they also tried but could not engage the reverse gear at all, onli lots of clashes betwween the flywheel and the gear box.....