IS THIS IDIOT SERIOUS?

WASHINGTON – Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is telling owners of recalled Toyotas to stop driving the vehicles and get them fixed.

LaHood's warning came Wednesday in testimony before a House Appropriations subcommittee on transportation. LaHood says his advice to owners is to "stop driving it. Take it to a Toyota dealer because they believe they have a fix for it."

Toyota's most recent recall in the United States affects 2.3 million vehicles with the potential for sticking gas pedals.

LaHood told reporters earlier in the day that Toyota owners should contact their dealer immediately and "exercise caution until repairs can be made."

Given the complaints I've heard on the radio (yes, I do listen to the radio whilst commuting), Toyota dealers are either uncooperative and somewhat nasty about this situation, or they don't have the necessary part as yet to effect the "fix". Unlike Mr. LaHood, the average consumer needs his vehicle for getting to and from work and the like. We need our vehicles so what would he suggest? That we just take a couple days off from work (in this economy?) to get a little shim installed to make our cars safer? And how would that help someone like the woman I heard on the air who had a leased T0yota and, in the lease, it specifically noted that in case of a recall, the dealer must provide a rental car! And her dealer is refusing to do so.

What are we going to do now, make more work for lawyers due to the numerous lawsuits that will be filed? Crikey!