Japan To Introduce Vehicles With New Accident Prevention System

Tokyo, Japan (AHN) - Aside from developing eco-friendly car models, a new challenge facing Japanese automobile manufacturers is to produce vehicles that can avoid accidents. New cars with accident prevention systems using state-of-the-art technology will roll out soon.

Leading the race for safer vehicles is Nissan Motor Company, currently testing prototypes equipped with a radar sensor that measures the distance between two cars.

When the tailgating car gets too close for comfort, the accelerator exerts pressure on the driver's foot to remind him to slow down. A computerized system activates automatically the auto's brakes if it assesses the driver cannot control the vehicle to avert an accident.

This system will first be found in Nissan's luxury Fuga sedan, expected to roll out this month.

Fuji Heavy Industries will install on its Legacy models two cameras on the upper portions of the windshield. The car will automatically stop if the two cameras sense pedestrians or bikers too close. It comes with a pre-programmed acceleration system that speeds up the car's pace even if the driver does not step on the gas, but will automatically slow down the automobile if an obstacle in front is detected.

Toyota is using a Driving Simulator on its Susono laboratory to simulate driving on a virtual field. It allows Toyota engineers to measure precisely what could be seen and what happens inside the vehicle if it moves slower or faster.

A number of Japanese firms are acquiring state-of-the-art technology by collaborating with Chinese research and development institutions.