The latest Toyota input is that the computer shows that the brakes on the infamous Prius were applied 250 times, "proving that the driver never applied the brakes firmly." (250 is the maximum number of "brake events" the computer could record.)

They also state that the accelerator was applied between each brake application.

The "brake override" is supposed to shut down the engine if accelerator and brakes are applied at the same time. If the accelerator is "failed on" the result Toyota reports could likely be taken as proof that the accelerator function (but not necessarily the pedal) was stuck, and if the command to accelerate was independant of the accelerator pedal (due to a failure) there's not much reason to expect the shutdown interlock to have been actuated.

The most common Anti-Lock Braking System mode of operation is to release the brake on any wheel that "slips," and since the computer overruns at a mere 250 "brake events" the most likely cause is that the brakes were not applied strongly enough to override the ABS system, If the brake/accelerator interlock is of normal kind the result reported by the computer would be an "expected result." The brakes were being "chattered" by the ABS system.

The only way to positively override cycling of most ABS systems is to release the brakes so that there is no slip, or to apply the brakes suddenly and forcefully enough to make all of the wheels lock up so that they're all "locked" at the same (zero) speed. ALL THE WHEELS must be put into "full lockup" within the "cycle time" for the ABS system - often about 100 Hz or so, so that the first couple of seconds would have "filled the computer memory." Locking all the wheels, even if it could be done, is a questionable action at 90 mph(?).

No argument, at this point, that the driver might have been able to hit the kill switch, or to shift into neutral. That failure just means that the controls were not obvious to him, and/or that he was just to scared to respond to suggestions from the 911 operator.

Looks (to me) like Toyota remains determined to evade, or just really don't have anyone very smart working the problem.

But I'll wait for their next "explanation."

John