Advice issued for consumers affected by Toyota recall

Britons who come into contact with a stuck accelerator should avoid thinking about the potential car insurance claims and try to remain calm.

Following the announcement that Toyota is recalling millions of its vehicles due to accelerator issues, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is assuring motorists not to panic if they find their pedal becomes stuck.

Stephen Mead, IAM assistant chief examiner, said: "Keep calm - surprisingly the perception of the average driver with a stuck accelerator is that they can't brake either, but this is a misconception brought on by panic."

Car and van insurance policyholders are then advised to press the brake firmly, then the clutch and disengage the power. Mr Mead added that drivers can still steer, making the situation not as much of a disaster as motorists may first think.

The driver should then indicate into a safe place and pull over.

Mr Mead went on to say: "There will be loud revving in the background and you will probably be in a state of shock, but if you remain calm you can avoid serious danger."

He added that consumers affected by Toyota's defective accelerator should contact the manufacturer themselves and enquire about having their car recalled.

Toyota has announced that 180,865 of its vehicles in the UK are affected by the fault, which can be fixed in 30 minutes. Among the vehicles featuring the faulty pedal is the Aygo, Auris, Yaris, Verso and Avensis.

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The views expressed within the article are entirely those of Adfero Ltd and are not those of the BGL Group