TMC Develops Collision Avoidance Assist System Effective at High Speeds

System Effective in More Than 90% of Speed Ranges in Rear-end Collisions

 

Toyota City, Japan, November 26, 2012—Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced that it has developed a Pre-collision System (PCS) with collision avoidance assist that is effective in helping mitigate high-speed^*1 collisions.

 

The newly developed PCS uses millimeter-wave radar to detect the risk of a rear-end collision with a preceding vehicle, with the system warning the driver via sound and display alerts to prompt braking when such a risk is detected.  When the driver applies the brakes, PCS enables a reduction in speed of up to 60 km/h^*2 by greatly increasing the braking force up to twice^*3 that of the average force applied by drivers. If the brakes are not applied, automatic reduction in speed^*4 of 15 km/h to approximately 30 km/h^*5 is possible^*6.

 

More than 90 per cent of rear-end collisions occur when the difference in speed between the preceding and following vehicle is within 60 km/h^*7. TMC aimed to develop a system based on real-world collision data, and has, with its newly developed system, achieved rear-end-collision reducing-effects at the highest level in the industry. The new PCS was developed to be used in a wide variety of models, and is to be rolled out starting with soon-to-be-launched models.

 

To contribute to the elimination of traffic accident fatalities and injuries—the ultimate goal of a society that values mobility—TMC is conducting research and development on individual onboard safety devices and systems based on its Integrated Safety Management Concept^*8, an approach that gives direction to safety technology and vehicle development. TMC is pressing forward with the development of safer vehicles and technologies and is intensifying its wide-ranging traffic-safety initiatives by participating in the development of traffic environments and conducting educational traffic-safety activities.

 

^*1Research has shown that a speed of 40 km/h to 60 km/h at the time of a rear-end collision is the range in which the number of fatal and injury-causing accidents increases

^*2When the driver’s car is traveling at 80 km/h and the preceding car is traveling at 20 km/h

^*3According to analysis of U.S. accident data

^*4Deceleration when no brake is applied is initiated from 15 km/h

^*5When the driver’s car is traveling at 50 km/h and the preceding car is traveling at 20 km/h

^*6Full capabilities may not be possible in certain road environments or under certain weather conditions

^*7Preliminary calculations from traffic accident statistics from the Japanese Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis (ITARDA – Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis)

^*8An approach to safety—not focused solely on independent safety systems—that seeks to provide the driver with comprehensive support in all aspects of driving

 

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