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Thursday, 28 November, 2013 3:27 PM
Toyota
discusses teen driving safety at 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show
Automaker's
FCV Concept fuel cell vehicle was no where to be found
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| PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com |
Toyota
took a different approach during its press conference at the 2013
L.A. Auto Show.
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LOS
ANGELES -- The big news out of the Los Angeles Auto Show
was going to be the fact that three automakers showed off hydrogen
fuel cell vehicles--Honda, Hyundai and Toyota. That all went according
to plan until the Toyota press conference. Many of us in the media
were expecting to see their new FCV Concept, but that didn't happen
here. It was no where to be found. Apparently, there was only one
prototype made and it was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show, which was
going on simultaneously.
"This
year is one of those weird major goofups when two major auto shows
are timed on top of each other," said Bob Carter, Senior Vice
President of Automotive Operations for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.
"Happily judging from the news buzz and the turnout from yesterday
and today, the Los Angeles Auto Show is off to a really good start.
Our new highlander SUV makes its very first public showing here
today. So please check it out at the back of our stage. The big
news at Tokyo for us was the big debut of our hydrogen fuel cell
vehicle that we will be bringing to market here in the U.S. here
in 2015. Our fuel cell is a midsize, four-door sedan with a 300
mile range that is refueled in just three minutes and emits just
water vapor."
Instead,
the automaker chose to devote its 25-minute press conference to
talking about teen driving safety. Teen drivers are four times more
likely to be involved a crash, according to Toyota. The automaker
announced a new initiative called TeenDrive365 to help parents with
the first year that their teen gets their license. That is the most
dangerous year of their lives, Carter said.
"Everyone
has a stake in highway safety regardless of the nameplate of their
vehicle," said Chuck Gulash, director of Toyota's Collaborative
Safety Research Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. "Last week, the
National Highway Safety Traffic Administration announced that about
1 in 10 fatal crashes was driver distraction affected. There is
still much to learn in this area. Driver distraction can be visual,
it can be manual and it can be cognitive. What's important is eyes
on the road, hands on the wheel and brain engaged and aware. These
three elements, at some level, are all interrelated. The question
is how do we stay properly stimulated and relaxed to be sufficiently
aware while driving."
Initially,
it was the windscreen and rear window that competed for our attention.
Now, drivers are bombarded by large information screens and displays
feeding us data at the same time. Gulash said cars can see things
and react quicker than humans can. In addition, he noted that humans
build real bonds with their devices.
"Today,
I want you to start thinking of the driver and car as teammates,"
the director of Toyota's CSRC explained. "Each must rely on
each other to perform consistently and accurately. The best teammates
learn from each other. Together, they are building situational awareness
of their driving environment. A little more than a year ago, Toyota
and Microsoft got together to explore a simple proposition. What
if we could begin the conversation between the driver and the vehicle
before the driver starts driving? For example, if a driver
walks up on a weekday afternoon, the car could ask if the destination
was for daycare and then home. The driver using hand guestures,
voice or a keyfob responds. The car then proceeds to alert him of
a traffic jam along the way offering an alternative route."
The Toyota
Driver Awareness Research Vehicle (DARV) minivan was on stage during
the press conference. It featured a display screen on the second
row driver's side window with a navigation system and other features.
The DARV screen can be programmed to remember more than one individual.
For example, if a child approaches the vehicle, it can initiate
a game with the child to see how fast seat belts can be buckled.
Also, the side window can be used for entertainment purposes such
as watching a pre-game show or a movie while parked.
Carter
said he will introduce the FCV Concept live at the Consumer Electronics
Show at the Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas on Jan. 6.
General
admission tickets to the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show are $10 for
weekdays and $12 for weekends (Fri.-Sun.). Seniors are $8, children
(ages 6-12) are $6 and free for children ages five and under. Discounted
group tickets are available for groups of 50 or more and can be
purchased by calling (310) 444-1850. The Los Angeles Convention
Center is located at 1201 S. Figueroa St. in Los Angeles. For more
information or to purchase tickets to the Los Angeles Auto Show,
visit www.laautoshow.com.
BONUS
>> EXCLUSIVE:
Win a Pair of Tickets to the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show Public Days!
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| PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com |
Video
cube up above
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| PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com |
Toyota's
Driver Awareness Research Vehicle
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| PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com |
Bob
Carter, Senior V.P. of Automotive Operations for Toyota
Motor Sales, U.S.A.
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| PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com |
He
introduced Chuck Gulash, Director of Toyota's Collaborative
Safety Research Center
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