Direction of the future automotive safety technology

Japan's traffic accident statistics clearly indicates that, in a mixed traffic system, the Mutual Safety Concept provides a highly desirable approach to traffic safety from the stand point of protecting those individuals who are the most vulnerable in a traffic accident. An important first step in accomplishing the aims of the Mutual Safety Concept, as this paper points out, is the observation of animal group movements in the nature, especially their instinctive abilities to sense and avoid dangers. A human's instinctive ability to sense and avoid danger is impaired when he or she moves in an automobile. We believe, therefor, that this instinctive function should be built into automobiles as a form of intelligent technology. With this basic concept in mind, this paper describes the necessary capabilities for improving the mutual safety in three categories and the technical elements to achieve these three capabilities. The paper will also introduce technical issues that need to be addressed as well as present expectation for the further developments in electronic technologies that will materialize the technical elements.