Toyota introduces new safety tech for the Japanese market

KUALA LUMPUR: Safety features in cars are never enough, and Toyota seems to know the fact quite well, as it keeps on improving and introducing new technologies. Sudden unintended acceleration, commonly knows as SUA, is one major cause of accidents around the world. To eliminate it fully, the automaker has introduced new Acceleration Suppression Systems over and above the existing system.

Under Toyota's new safety systems lies the Plus Support and Pedal Misapplication Acceleration Control System II. Both will work towards reducing accidents and damage caused by the misapplication of the accelerator pedal.

It is to be noted that it isn't Toyota's first anti-SUA system, Intelligent Clearance System was the first of its kind to be introduced in 2012, and in 2018 came the Pedal Misapplication Acceleration Control System. Two years since its introduction, the said system has prevented 70 percent of all the accidents caused by the accelerator's misapplication. And the recently introduced systems are intended to lower the occurrence of accidental acceleration further.

The Plus Support and Pedal Misapplication Acceleration Control Systems II, unlike the automaker's previously introduced systems, can suppress the pedal's misapplication without detecting any obstacles in front of the car. The system works in reverse gears as well, when no obstruction is present. To develop the new system, the automaker determined the instances when the driver is required to accelerate intentionally and when not.

The Plus Support system will first be introduced in Prius and Prius PHV and will roll out in other Toyota vehicles equipped with ICS eventually. The system activates the moment the car is unlocked using the Plus Support Smart Key. In case the car is opened using the conventional key, Plus Support won't get activated.

As for the introduction of the Pedal Misapplication Acceleration Control System, it will come as a retrofit in models equipped with the previous system. It will also appear in the Sai that is scheduled for November 2020 launch and in the Crown and Mark X vehicle planned for January 2021.

The Plus Support and Misapplication Acceleration Control System II will, without a doubt, make Toyota cars safer, and we are hopeful for its soon local introduction.

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