Japan To Require Unintended Acceleration Prevention Tech In New Cars

Japan will require all new automatic passenger cars to have technology to prevent drivers from accelerating unintentionally by hitting the gas pedal instead of the brake, according to the transport ministry, Kyodo News reported.

The technology will suppress acceleration, meaning even if the driver fully steps down on the accelerator pedal 1 to 1.5 meters away from a sizeable object, the car will stop before hitting it or slow to less than 8 kilometers per hour if a collision is unavoidable. I Photo: Nissan 

With the country facing a rapidly aging population, it is hoped the new rule will curb traffic accidents, often committed by elderly drivers, in line with new UN regulations expected to take effect in June next year.

"Japan has been proposing to make it an international standard since 2022," transport minister Tetsuo Saito said at a press conference in late June.

"We will prepare for the new regulations and strive to improve the safety of cars," he said, without specifying the precise timing of the requirement's introduction, Mainichi Japan also reported.

The technology will suppress acceleration, meaning even if the driver fully steps down on the accelerator pedal 1 to 1.5 meters away from a sizeable object, the car will stop before hitting it or slow to less than 8 kilometers per hour if a collision is unavoidable.

When the technology is activated, an in-vehicle display will also show a warning, such as, "Step off the accelerator pedal," according to the ministry.

The ministry will revise its ordinances after the UN regulations are formally agreed upon in November this year, requiring new automatic models to install the technology first before having it expanded into new cars for existing models.