HIROSHIMA, JAPAN – Mazda Motor Corporation will commence public road trials of its advanced safety vehicle, Mazda ASV-4, in the Hiroshima area on March 11. The trials are based on the Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV) Promotion Plan that was introduced by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transportation (MLIT) to promote the development, practical application and wider use of ASV technologies aimed at reducing the number of traffic accidents. During the ASV Project’s Phase Four trials, Mazda will forge ahead with development of a safe driving support system that employs vehicle-to-vehicle communications.

In collaboration with other ASV project members in the Hiroshima area*1, Mazda will collect and analyze data to promote development of a safe driving support system. The system deploys safety technologies which utilize vehicle-to-vehicle communications to alert drivers of oncoming vehicles at blind intersections or on twisting roads with limited visibility. By reducing driver oversight or error, the system aims to mitigate two vehicle collisions at blind intersections, rear-end collisions and accidents when a vehicle performs right turns. Mazda plans to begin testing the two vehicle blind collision avoidance system in fiscal year 2007. Road trials of the right-turn and rear-end collision avoidance systems are set to commence in fiscal 2008.