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Nissan Develops Distance Control Assist System

March 15, 2006 By

In its ongoing efforts to improve traffic safety, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced the development of Distance Control Assist System, an electronic system that helps drivers control the distance between themselves and the vehicle in front.

The new system is especially useful in heavy traffic when frequent braking is required.

The system is able to determine the following distance of the driver, as well as the relative speed of both cars, using a radar sensor installed in the front bumper. If the driver releases the accelerator pedal or is not pressing the accelerator pedal, the system automatically applies the brakes.1 If the system determines that braking is required, an indicator will appear on the instrument panel and a buzzer will sound simultaneously. The accelerator pedal will then automatically move upwards to assist the driver in switching to the brakes.

The Distance Control Assist System is the latest innovation developed under Nissan‚Äö?Ñ?¥s Safety Shield2 concept, and accident prevention and management approach based on the idea of “vehicles that help protect people”.

  1. The system applies the brakes only when the driver is not pressing the accelerator pedal.
  2. Safety Shield: Through this concept introduced in 2004, Nissan aims to help create a safe motorised society in which there are no traffic accidents. The company is continuously working to design and engineer safer vehicles and has set a goal of halving by 2015 the number of fatal and serious injuries involving Nissan vehicles as compared to the 1995 level.

System Structure

Distance Control Assist System Structure

Filed Under: Car News, Nissan

Motorists On Water SOS

March 15, 2006 By
  • Avoiding ban on car wash

Car owners are being urged to ‘do their bit’ as the threat of hosepipe bans becomes a reality. Motorists On Water SOSExperts estimate that the average household can save up to 14* gallons in cleaning their cars more consciously. The first day of Spring (March 20) signals the start of the traditional British Sunday morning car wash. More than 6m will grab the sponge and chamois this weekend alone. With 57 percent admitting to using a hosepipe**, a change of habit is needed, says leading car care company, Comma. According to the Environment Agency, reservoir levels in the South are 46 percent below capacity compared to just 6 percent in Wales.

Top Five Tips to save water

  1. Clean from the top down
  2. Always wash in the shade to avoid drying marks and repeat cleaning
  3. Wring sponge or chamois out over the bucket
  4. Use a sponge to wash down with one hand, and a chamois in the other to dry off immediately
  5. Wash your car after a rain shower – the car will already be wet, so you won’t need to rinse it first

Comma suggests motorists can save up to 84m gallons and still get that showroom shine by cleaning their car with just two buckets of water (average bucket equals approx 3 gallons). "You really only need one to clean and another to wash down," says Comma spokesman, Mike Bewsey. Car owners in East Anglia are the worst offenders for wasting water with more than 80 percent opting for the hosepipe according to Comma research. Conversely, Greater London – one of the regions affected by the Thames Water ban – are the most conscious with 83 percent choosing the bucket. Unsurprisingly, the decision to use a hose or bucket is also influenced by water meters – 67 percent of households on meters wash with a bucket compared to 43% of those who pay through regular billing. *Source – Three Valley Water Company. Correct as of 25 February 2005. ** Comma research conducted during December 2004. Sample size of 474.

Filed Under: Car News, Comma