Japan planning intelligent road systems

Finding real-time traffic data is becoming less unusual thanks to nav units popping up more frequently in vehicles nowadays, but real-time data about about potential road hazards, pedestrians in the way, and other random tidbits that could prevent a serious headache (or worse) isn't quite there yet. Japan's National Police Agency is on the ball, however, and hopes to take the currently installed Vehicle Information and Communication System (VICS) to the next level (and make sure that more than 10 percent of the population actually takes advantage of it). The Driving Safety Support System (DSSS) is being developed by the Universal Traffic Management Society of Japan (UTMS), and aside from creating a maze of acronyms to keep track of, it plans on utilizing two-way infrared beacons -- installed about 5.5 meters above the street -- to analyze real-time information about street conditions, hazards, and pedestrians who aren't paying attention. The beacons will reportedly beam the data to your in-car navigation system, and depending on your specific location, will be tailored to address intersections and crossroads that you are actually approaching. Approximately 20 types of subsystems could be installed by 2008, with 5 of these currently being tested -- the beacons are placed in "accident-prone" areas, and are each designed to help prevent a certain type of mishap, be it a rear-end collision, right-turn fender bender, or flattening of an innocent bystander or two. While this sounds like an excellent way to curb vehicular chaos in a nation where traffic is becoming a serious issue, we can't exactly envision this taking off like the UTMS probably hopes -- it's going to take quite awhile before a significant amount of drivers can rock navigation systems in their rides, and who's to say that all this pertinent information demanding the driver's attention won't become a hazard in and of itself?

[Via Pink Tentacle]

[Dylan Cross @ Aug 19th 2006 12:04AM]

Stop your nay-saying engadget! It will take a while to iron out the bugs but its definately the next step. The driver won't have to pay attention when the car drives itself. Lets hope it gets off to a better start than the mercedes auto braking system.

[George Lee @ Aug 19th 2006 12:55AM]

"it's going to take quite awhile before a significant amount of drivers can rock navigation systems in their rides"

Evidently you aren't very familiar with Japanese automotives. Practically every low- to mid-range vehicle being sold in Japan at the moment is equipped with a car navigation system. The level of graphic quality (i.e. three dimensional topographical data) far surpasses what's available in most other countries.

It's a good bet to assume that most if not all Japanese cars on the road, within the next ten years, will be equipped with at the very least some form of navigation system.

[kerunt @ Aug 19th 2006 1:43AM]

One word: paragraphs.

[itanshi @ Aug 19th 2006 2:02AM]

heh, you know, if you want a cool show exploring the concept of computer driven cars and highways try out X-Driver. it's short and albeit animated, but it's by the guy who did Ah My Goddess (cept it lacks in the romance department)

its quite educational for people unaquainted and on discount given its age. Froogle it (eh, i can say that right?)

[SR @ Aug 19th 2006 2:05AM]

What the heck are you rambling about? This is Japan you are talking about. They will have that thing deployed easily and navigation systems in cars won't be a big deal because they'll probably have it on their phones.

[Fronz @ Aug 19th 2006 2:56AM]

I agree with derunt!

I think that cars that run on tracks is a much more convenient way of handling it, and doing the risky - handing over the keys to the government. far less car accidents - none of which are DUIs - and the cars would run on hella expensive energy terminals under the road which feed the car through the tracks they run on. Bye gas, by meaningless deaths, hello taxes doubling. I'm up for it, who's with me!

[Mike @ Aug 19th 2006 3:16AM]

When I stayed in Japan, it seemed like most people had some sort of Nav system in their car, usually the removable variety (kind of like our TomTom's), so I don't think getting nav systems into the hands of the drivers would be as hard as it sounds.

[Keith L. Dick @ Aug 19th 2006 4:27AM]

Will they include *Cow Tipping Intersections???*...

[OC @ Aug 19th 2006 4:34AM]

I for one welcome our new computerised traffic beacon overlords.

[Snowmobile @ Aug 19th 2006 5:35AM]

Real time data about pedestrians can be acquired by paying attention.

[Himanshu @ Aug 19th 2006 8:38AM]

It is not surprising that most of them are. They also wear Crocs Jibbitz http://www.crocsjibbitz.com which are the new age shoes.

[RisingSunofNihon @ Aug 19th 2006 8:41AM]

It's kind of hard to find someone in Japan that *doesn't* have a navigation system in their car these days. But that doesn't mean that they use it all the time. For example, if I'm driving familiar roads (to, from work) I don't have my navi on. So that warning system wouldn't work for me.

[Hao Jingshan @ Aug 19th 2006 8:56AM]

Nav system is always tricky, for there's too many standard/data type/intension/player in the market, and with so little government regulation.

But those Japan companies sure can do something to surprise us outsider, almost always by news, for they do not sell those thing oversea too early.

[Shootist @ Aug 19th 2006 9:57AM]

I this point in Japan, the vast majority of new cars all have navi on them.

You seriously need a navi to get around Japan, in fact most have TV as well, and now with terrestial digital broadcast TV is as common as day.

[DarkFader @ Aug 20th 2006 8:05PM]

This would be great combined with Augmented Reality (e.g. transparent OLED windscreens) !

[Sam @ Aug 21st 2006 12:26PM]

regarding the concern of the extra information becoming a hazard:

You don't need to worry, because one of the hazards it detects is itself. It reminds you every 10 seconds that it's unsafe to drive while constantly listening to warnings from your car.

[Gio - NYC @ Aug 21st 2006 5:14PM]

Its a perfect idea, since they cant drive for sh _ t out there. But why? When %75 take mass transit or ride thier bikes.