To achieve zero accidents, Toyota plans to remove the ability for drivers to disable safety systems. Electronics will constantly monitor the situation and only in rare cases allow the driver to take full control.
According to the New Atlas, the Japanese automaker has begun considering the possibility of software-based deactivation of safety systems in its vehicles. Akihiro Sarada, president of Toyota's software development center, stated that the company's ultimate goal is to completely eliminate all traffic accidents, not just fatal ones. He added that autonomous driving remains a key technology in achieving this goal, and the company has yet to decide whether to allow drivers to disable safety features.
At the same time, management understands owners' desire for driving pleasure and considers compromise scenarios. Sarada explained that the electronics could allow the driver to take control on racetracks or public roads, provided there are no other cars or pedestrians nearby. The system will use connected data to analyze the situation and notify the driver that aggressive driving is safe at that moment. When other road users appear, the car will reactivate the speed limiters or lane-keeping function.
The relevance of this debate is supported by data from the AAMI Crash Index, a study conducted by the Australian insurance company AAMI, which analyzed over 480,000 insurance claims. Analysts found that one in five drivers prefers to deactivate their electronic safety systems. For 69% of respondents, the main reason for not using these systems was their intrusiveness and oversensitivity. Another 23% of respondents considered such features unnecessary, and 13% expressed a lack of trust in the automatic systems.
Experts believe that Toyota's implementation of such restrictions could set a precedent for the entire automotive industry. It was the first company to implement a lock on satellite navigation settings while driving, prompting other manufacturers to adopt similar measures. If the Japanese automaker adopts a new safety control strategy, drivers risk permanently losing the ability to influence automated safety systems.
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Source: 3dnews.ru
