Last month, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism released the results of tests to evaluate automatic braking functions that some automobile manufacturers now offer. The purpose of the tests, according to a report in the Asahi Shimbun, was to "provide consumers with a set of references when they choose a new car."
The transport ministry used a point system to gauge performance. With automatic braking, the car stops or slows by itself when it draws too close to a moving or stationary obstacle in front of it. The tests were conducted at speeds between 10 and 60 kph. Three vehicles, Subaru's Levorg, Nissan's Skyline and Toyota's Lexus LS, received "perfect scores." In fact, 15 models received "advanced safety plus" ratings, with 11 cars earning an "advanced safety" rating without the "plus."
Eight makers submitted a total of 26 models to the evaluation, which means all of them passed with flying colors. Moreover, the transport ministry testers concluded that "the more expensive the model, the better the results." The ministry boasted that this is the first time any "government in the world" has "tested automatic brakes." The Asahi apparently feels the precedent is notable, too, since it ran the article on page 1.