Modern Technology Combats Age Old Frustration

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On a fairly superficial scale, there is almost nothing more irritating than sitting in traffic. Cars inching forward at a snail's pace; only the lanes next to you ever making any progress. Fortunately, Honda Motor Company is well on its way in introducing technology aimed at easing traffic congestion and preventing rear end accidents on our crowded roadways. It is the latest offering from Honda's Environmental Vision campaign aimed reintroducing "the joy and freedom of mobility" and a "sustainable society where people can enjoy life".

Developed through a partnership with the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo, Honda has officially introduced the world's first technology designed to detect the potential for traffic congestion and determine whether the driving patterns of a vehicle are likely to create a traffic jam. The system works by analyzing the acceleration and deceleration patterns of a vehicle to determine the likelihood that the vehicle will cause a traffic stoppage in the future. It is not a system that provides information on existing congestion and how to avoid it.

Using the gathered information, the system then prompts the driver of the correct preventative behavior. This includes an on board display with a color coded system to encourage smoother driving habits and curb the intensity of acceleration or deceleration. The major issue being addressed through this technology is the unsafe and unnecessary driving maneuvers that many motorists employ in congested situations. When a safer, slower, and more consistent speed would ease the tension of high volume areas, too many motorists are quickly accelerating and quickly braking over and over again. By installing a system that can determine a safe and steady pace for a vehicle to follow, drivers will be much less inclined to drive in such an inefficient manner, or so Honda would have us believe.

According to preliminary test results, this congestion prevention technology has the potential to greatly improve traffic flow, and the environment as well. In simulated tests, the system helped to increase the average speed on congested roadways by approximately 23%, also increasing fuel efficiency for vehicles on the road by as much as 8%. Mitigating the wealth of start/stop driving also works to decrease the levels of CO2 being blown into the atmosphere through vehicle exhaust.

Having conquered the theoretical test phase, Honda is now moving to real world testing in some of the most congested areas in the world. In May and June of 2012, the automaker will begin testing the technology in Italy and Indonesia. If tests are successful, such technology could find its way into regular production in the years to come. Hopefully, with such a system on board, traffic (and stress) can begin to be alleviated. Coupled with other safety technologies being developed today, motorists can hope for a future where drivers are focused on the task of safe driving, making the road a safe place to get us all to our destinations, wherever they may be.

If you or someone you know has been in an accident, you need help. The Consumers' Law Group provides their clients with expert legal help to win you results. You can feel confident that the Los Angeles injury attorneyswho represent you know your concerns and the issues you face with crowded roads, freeways, and highways that can lead to automobile, motorcycle, bus, and truck accidents. The San Diego injury attorneys know these issues from the inside and out—as legal professionals and as citizens who share the road and live in the communities.
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