Hyundai shows off its safety leadership by implementing brake pedal throttle override capability into all new models in advance of pending government mandate.

The government mandate for brake pedal throttle override capability has been under consideration by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) since April 2012. However, its final approval has yet to be determined. Hyundai development teams have decided not to wait for the final government mandate decision, focusing instead on the immediate safety of their customers.

With nearly all cars using electronic throttle control today, there remains a very small possibility for an unforeseen electronic throttle control malfunction. This could cause a vehicle to accelerate without hitting the gas pedal. Although very unlikely due to safety features already in most cars, unforeseen circumstances could still exist that could cause this type of malfunction. Hyundai isn’t taking any chances by making sure every new model has this new override system.

“With Hyundai’s brake pedal throttle override capability, any brake pedal input by the driver, even with a runaway throttle condition, completely overrides any throttle malfunction,” said Robert Babcock, director of certification and compliance affairs for Hyundai’s technical center.  ”It is no longer possible to have increasing engine power once the brake pedal is depressed by the driver. This adds a reassuring, incremental safeguard of control for Hyundai drivers.”