According to Automotive News Europe, Toyota is getting ready to reveal a new pair of pre-crash safety systems to the world.
One of these systems is designed to reduced high-speed collisions, while the second is aimed at pedal misapplication. The first system uses fancy millimeter-wave radar to calculate collision risk, and will alert the driver with audio and visual clues if it detects a problem. The system also activates a new brake-booster that can deliver twice the braking force normally applied.
The pedal misapplication system is designed to stop low speed and parking collisions with an automatic braking system. This new system is sonar based and will apply the brakes if it senses that car is approaching a non-moving object too quickly. The system also includes a system that will slow down the car if the driver performs “abnormal shifting”, or shifts when the accelerator is applied.
We think the best cure to most of these problems is better driver education, but we don’t make decisions at Toyota HQ.
Look for these to show up on a future “high-end Toyota-brand sedan” at a later date.
