The major failure of all automobile manufacturers is that they haven't implemented a fail safe mechanism in the event of engine failure at velocity. If they had it would literally be as simple as turning the engine off and the brakes deploying at a reasonable (IE not maximum) pressure.
The fact of the matter is that every vehicle except consumer automobiles fail safe from aeroplanes to tractor trailers (power failure leads to de-pressurizing of the air compressor and the brakes apply harder as the air level decreases). Toyota shouldn't be being hauled up, they all should be for risking civilian lives. IMO you accept certain risks when you pilot an aircraft, train, or transportation vehicle, however these are all typically far safer than the vehicles readily handed to consumers. That just is not right.
Though I guess they already have that in the form of "emergency brake". Do you suggest they implement electronics to perform these functions when the e-brake is depressed?
The increased use of electronic control in automobiles means that cars now have the problem that software has had for a while; real but difficult to reproduce bugs. When the control of the car has gone away from physical devices like rods and wires, not only is it harder to find the control but any problem that exists just seems creepier. This is another that I suspect is driving the current reaction.
What bugs me is that people don't keep things in perspective. I see people all the time claim they want to go back to the way cars were (more mechanically simple, or whatever). What they seem to forget is that cars broke down a hell of a lot more often back then.
In fact, they broke down so often that it wasn't such a big deal. Now we expect them to work flawlessly and when something goes wrong it somehow seems worse.
It's almost like Microsoft designed these cars: "What? I push Start to shut down the car/computer?"
It's also very convenient for opening the trunk without a key as well. It has proximity sensors by the driver and passenger doors, as well as the trunk.
Yes, the computers do.
However, if you're going to have an accident, engine damage is pretty low on the list of concerns, even if you ignore the fact that accidents cause engine damage.
Switching off the ignition can lock the steering....
You also lose the power-assist on the brakes.
Given the above, you might not notice that you've also lost the power-assist on the steering.
Turning the engine off with the key need not lock the steering, but it will lock the steering if you turn the key past off to lock.
In a run-away engine scenario, are you likely to stop turning the key in a position that you don't use very often? Or, are you likely to turn it as hard as possible?
There may be an interlock that is supposed to keep the key from locking the steering while in drive or neutral, but do you trust it? (What about manual transmission cars? I know that I can lock my steering while in gear. I forget whether it requires clutch-in though.)