史密斯在由一个独立委员会组织的会议上发表上述言论。该委员会由美国国家研究委员会成立，负责调查丰田汽车无故加速的原因。
While not referring specifically to Toyota, Richard Boyd, acting director of NHTSA's office of defects investigation, told the NRC meeting that most sudden acceleration incidents investigated over the past three decades 'probably involve the driver unintentionally pressing the accelerator when braking was intended'.
尽管并未明确提及丰田，但NHTSA故障调查办公室代理负责人理查德?博艾德在此次会议上表示，过去30年调查过的大多数汽车突然加速事故，“都很可能是由于驾驶员在想要刹车时无意识地踩了油门”。
Toyota said it had not received details of NHTSA's test findings. It said its own tests point to a variety of causes, including 'pedal misapplication' and other driver errors.
丰田表示，目前尚未收到NHTSA的测试结果详细资料，并称公司自行进行的测试表明，事故有多种原因，包括“错误使用踏板”及其它驾驶员过失。
Even if the investigations end up supporting Toyota's findings, the carmaker 'would still be better off if this had never happened', Erich Merkle, who runs the autoconomy.com website, said.
艾里奇?默克尔表示，尽管调查结果有利于丰田，但对该汽车制造商来说，“若没有发生这一切会更好”。