I WAS EDGING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN A SUPERMARKET PARKING LOT. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ALLOW ANOTHER CAR TO PASS. MY CAR SUDDENLY SURGED AHEAD, HITTING FIVE OTHER VEHICLES AND A PEDESTRIAN, BEFORE SMASHING INTO A BARRIER THAT STOPPED IT. I WAS PUSHING HARD ON THE BRAKE PETAL THROUGHOUT, BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT ON STOPPING THE CAR. IT IS OF COURSE POSSIBLE THAT I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND NOT THE BRAKE PEDAL. EXAMINING THE IDENTICAL MODEL OF THE CAR SUBSEQUENT TO THE ACCIDENT, I FOUND THAT, BECAUSE OF THE CLOSENESS OF THE GAS PEDAL TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE FOR A DRIVER TO HAVE HIS RIGHT FOOT PARTIALLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PARTIALLY ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT APPEARS THAT THE TWO PETALS ARE TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER AND SHOULD BE SPACED FURTHER APART, TO ELIMINATE THIS POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR