Washington, DC–March 25, 2004–Japan's automakers are employing new technologies and testing to reduce the number of pedestrian deaths in Japan, according to Japan Auto Trends, the newsletter of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), released today.

In Japan pedestrian deaths make up around 28 percent of traffic accident deaths. Sixty percent of these are due to severe head injuries caused when a person hits the hood of a vehicle after being struck by the vehicle.

Mazda has already developed a "shock cone aluminum hood," which has an inner panel uniquely shaped with many craters, similar to cones. This increases the hood's shock absorption. Honda, several years ago, created the world's first pedestrian dummy to measure the dynamics of car-pedestrian accidents in order to reduce head injuries. Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd, a member of the Toyota group, has developed an airbag system that would deploy from the windshield, thereby protecting a pedestrian from striking the windshield in the event of a collision.

Automakers are also investing in new technologies to lower vehicle noise since people live close together in Japan and streets are near homes. Compared with vehicles 30 years ago, manufacturers have reduced noise levels by 90 percent for cars, trucks and motorcycles. Recently Yamaha won a national prize for its environmentally friendly Passol electric commuter scooter. Mazda has increased the size of its air cleaner and increased its muffler capacity to reduce noise from air inflow into the engine. Mazda vehicles in Japan also are equipped with low-noise tires.

In the March newsletter's "Commentary," William C. Duncan, General Director, JAMA USA, is optimistic that auto sales will be brighter than earlier forecast. "January 2004 automobile sales results jumped 6 percent over the previous year. This is an excellent start for the year, particularly since vehicle sales in Japan have been stuck in the same level of about 5.8 to 5.9 million units since 1998."

Although personal spending is forecast to be flat this year, Duncan added "Other indicators present a somewhat brighter future, noteworthy among them being the robust level of corporate investment, an increase in employment and the healthy jump in January auto sales."

The quarterly "Executive Highlights" column focuses on Tomiji Sugimoto, Senior Chief Safety Engineer of Honda R&D. Sugimoto launched a comprehensive research program aimed at making Honda vehicles safer for pedestrians. He recently told the Wall Street Journal that only eight years ago "nobody seemed interested in pedestrian safety. We couldn't understand anything about how to protect them."

Honda has raised the hood on the latest Accord sedan and other models to prevent head injuries. For Sugimoto, who has worked in Honda's crash safety program since 1978, the challenge has just begun, he says.

Other stories in the newsletter include:

• Traffic Casualty Rates Drop in Japan
• Japan's Best-Selling Vehicles in 2003
• Heavy-Duty Truck Sales Expected to Decline in 2004
• "Snapshots"–The Series Examining the History of Japan's Car Companies

Japan Auto Trends, the JAMA newsletter, examines developments in Japan's auto markets. This publication and all back issues are available on the JAMA web site, www.jama.org. JAMA, located in Tokyo, has offices in Washington, D.C., Brussels, Beijing and Singapore.