More than half of fatalities in traffic accidents in Japan are the vulnerable parties in such accidents (pedestrians, motorcycles, bicycles). In most of these accidents, the cause is collision involving automobiles. Therefore, reasoning that early detection of such vulnerable parties would lead to a reduction in accidents, research was conducted on the following three systems: (1) Honda Night Vision System: for night-time detection of pedestrians using infrared cameras; (2) Active Headlights: for assuring night-time field of vision by directing illumination in the direction of vehicle travel through lights coupled with steering wheel turn and so on; and (3) Inter-Vehicle Motorcycle-Automobile Communication System (IVCS): notifies drivers of each other's presence by providing information through communications systems installed on both vehicles. The results from research on these systems show that their use can be expected to have a positive effect in reducing the occurrence of accidents. These systems have been installed on experimental vehicles under the Advanced Safety Vehicle Project Phase 2 (ASV-2). This project was proposed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Japan and is being participated in by thirteen domestic automobile manufacturers.
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