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New Safety Systems Minimizes, Stops Hybrid Car Wrecks May 2005Cars and trucks, equipped with crashworthy crumple zones, safety cages and an array of air bags, have nearly reached the limit when it comes to protecting occupants.Drivers and passengers are surviving severe crashes in today's vehicles that could have killed them in most vehicles that were built just a decade ago. Now comes the next step: cars and trucks that avoid crashes altogether. Using existing technology, automakers are designing vehicles with enough electronic intelligence to keep collisions from happening, or minimize the impact, by sensing dangerous situations before they happen and enhancing driver reactions. "All drivers are not created equal," said Seigo Kuzumaki, project general manager for vehicle safety for Toyota Motor Co. "The critical point is that approximately 70 percent of fatal accidents are caused by a driver-recognition error." Toyota recently hosted a safety seminar at its Arizona Proving Ground in Wittman to demonstrate the latest safety technologies to help drivers stay in control. Systems that help prevent accidents are referred to as "active safety," as opposed to "passive safety" systems, which protect occupants in the event of a collision. Some of the new technology includes an audible warning in the event a driver drifts across a highway marker; a crash-avoidance system that helps stop the car faster and tightens driver and passenger seat belts; and an integrated system that improves handling and crash avoidance. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun emphasizing active-safety technology in its efforts to reduce crashes and fatalities, NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey Runge told Automotive News in January. "We are reaching the point of diminishing returns by focusing on crashworthiness," Runge said. "But we can make big gains by focusing on crash avoidance." Most of Toyota's latest active-safety systems appear on high-priced vehicles from its Lexus luxury division, but as typically occurs, the advances are expected to filter down gradually into less-expensive cars and trucks. All the world's major automakers are designing and deploying similar technologies for their vehicles. Breakthroughs such as anti-lock braking and traction control have become commonplace in recent years in nearly every price range, though they all started out in high-end vehicles. Such high-end automakers as Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Cadillac have employed advanced safety technology in their vehicles for several years to improve vehicle stability, prevent skids and improve braking. Acura recently announced that it would include a crash-avoidance system on its RL flagship sedan for 2006. Some surprising technologies, such as Nissan's new Lane Departure Warning system that audibly alerts a driver when a vehicle wanders out of its freeway lane, has received a lot of attention recently. The Nissan system, introduced on the 2005 Infiniti FX sport utility vehicle, won the annual Best of ITS Award during the Integrated Traffic Systems conference in Phoenix this month. The ITS conference highlighted some future technologies that integrate safety systems between automobiles and roads. During the Toyota Arizona Proving Ground event, the Japanese automaker focused on active-safety systems that link existing and newly developed technologies to create overall safety systems. Two pieces of active-safety technology demonstrated at the seminar: Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management. This system combines vehicle stability control, traction control, brake assist, anti-lock brakes, electronic throttle control, electric power steering and electronic braking to greatly improve handling and crash avoidance. The VDIM system, now available on 2006 Lexus GS models and Toyota Highlander Hybrid, was demonstrated on a wet skidpad obstacle course. Drivers who were unable to maintain control on the slippery course when the VDIM was turned off found they could easily complete the maneuvers when VDIM was activated. A professional driver took the participants on some fast laps on a winding dirt-road course with a Highlander Hybrid, showing how the SUV more easily maintained its stability with VDIM activated. Pre-Collision System. Using a sophisticated radar sensor hidden behind the grille, this complex system is able to sense an impending crash and take action. Anything from an unavoidable collision with another vehicle to a cinder block lying in the road will trigger several integrated functions: " The brake-assist system will apply maximum pressure as soon as the driver hits the brake pedal to reduce collision speed. " The front suspension tightens to prevent the vehicle from diving downward. " The seat belts for the driver and front-seat passenger retract for maximum effectiveness. SOURCE: Arizona Republic | ||
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