Automotive safety systems that sense when a vehicle is about to crash and initiate braking and tighten seatbelts to mitigate injury are evolving into systems that can prevent some collisions entirely. The 2013 Lexus LS460, Toyota's luxury flagship, begins arriving in the U.S. in November with an "advanced pre-collision system" available as an option. When driving at speeds below 29 miles per hour, the system uses radar and optical sensors to determine if a car is likely to collide with a pedestrian or object ahead. The Toyota system can override a distracted, inattentive or impaired driver and bring the car to a stop prior to impact. It could prove especially helpful to preventing pedestrian injuries and deaths.
Read Article