Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) will conduct public-road tests here starting in May of a TMC developed driving support system that uses ITS1 technology to transmit information from traffic lights to vehicles. The system is one of various Driving Safety Support Systems (DSSS) that are being promoted by the Japanese National Police Agency and sponsored by the Universal Traffic Management Society of Japan (UTMS Japan)2. For the tests, one road in Toyota City will be equipped with a system to transmit traffic light signal information via the 700-Mhz3 band to vehicles equipped with on-board testing systems. The system receives the information and then provides alerts when necessary to vehicle occupants via the audio system and the navigation system screen. Added to TMC’s separate system to help drivers notice red lights, it is hoped that by early encouragement to decelerate when approaching red lights, CO2 emissions can be reduced.
Provision of traffic light signal information was made possible with the cooperation of the National Police Agency and the Aichi Prefectural Police. Through these public-road tests, TMC will analyze driver behavior under various driving conditions to clarify the extent to which cooperative vehicle-infrastructure systems can contribute to reducing traffic accidents and CO2 emissions, and then incorporate the data into future system development.
Based on its Integrated Safety Management Concept, TMC is making proactive efforts to develop its driving vehicle infrastructure cooperative4 safety support systems utilizing ITS technologies that make it possible to connect people, vehicles, and traffic environments. TMC has been using the 700-MHz band (allocated by the government for ITS) starting with public-road tests in March last year on a support system aimed at preventing collisions caused by driver error during right-hand turns at intersections.
1 Intelligent Transport Systems; systems that seek to prevent traffic accidents by alerting the driver to dangerous situations through provision of visual and aural information on nearby traffic conditions, reduce environmental impact and emissions, and create a more comfortable driving environment.
2 Carries out surveys, research, and development on Universal Traffic Management Systems (UTMS). UTMS Japan aims to contribute to social welfare by promoting more intelligent road transportation; ensuring safe, smooth road transportation; and ensuring harmony with the environment.
3 700 MHz band ITS standard (ARIB STD-T109). Because this communication method features electromagnetic waves with excellent propagation characteristics, it is expected to be effective for supporting the prevention of vehicle-to-vehicle collisions at intersections and collisions with vehicles coming from the opposite direction when making right-hand turns.
4 A type of ITS that receives information—including traffic regulation information (such as information on the cycle of traffic lights) and information about things that cannot be directly seen by the driver—via wireless communication from communications infrastructure installed in roads and other vehicles. By notifying the driver of this information, this system supports safe driving and helps prevent accidents.
