The Japanese government will mandate the installation of pedal error prevention devices starting in 2028 to prevent accidents caused by confusing the accelerator and brake pedals.
According to NHK and Yomiuri Shimbun on the 18th, the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced that it has revised vehicle safety standards accordingly. The new regulations will apply to automatic passenger cars sold after September 2028, and imported vehicles will be included starting September 2029.
The device will limit the vehicle speed to below 8 km/h if an obstacle is detected within 1 to 1.5 meters in front of the vehicle, even if the driver mistakenly presses the accelerator pedal deeply.
This measure has been promoted following a major accident caused six years ago when an elderly driver mistakenly operated the pedal in downtown Tokyo. The Japanese government has expanded the distribution of the device, and currently, it is reported that more than 90% of vehicles produced after 2023 are equipped with this feature.