January 10, 2011
CHICAGO (AFP) - Toyota, hit with millions of safety recalls in recent years, Sunday announced it would open a safety research center to work with universities, hospitals and government agencies to reduce traffic fatalities in the United States.
"The collaborative research will pursue integrated ways to enhance safety, involving the vehicle, driver and traffic environment," Toyota said in a statement.
"Initial areas of focus will include reducing the risk of driver distraction -- a growing cause of accidents -- and helping to protect the most vulnerable traffic populations, including children, teens and seniors," the company said, noting that those groups account for "approximately 30 percent of US traffic fatalities."
Announcing the new safety initiative, Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda said, "Toyota's new safety research center will work with leading North American universities and other partners on safety projects that benefit the entire industry.
"Our investment will support collaborative research aiming to reduce driver distraction and increase the safety of vehicles, drivers, passengers and pedestrians," he said.
Toyota has recalled around 10 million vehicles worldwide since 2009 for safety issues and has paid a record 16.4-million-dollar fine to settle claims it hid gas pedal defects blamed for dozens of deaths.
The carmaker's top executives have repeatedly denied that the sudden, deadly surges in speed stemmed from flaws in the electronic systems that govern acceleration and braking in modern vehicles.
