Toyota develops world's 1st rear-seat center airbag

Wednesday 11th March, 01:38 PM JST

TOKYO —

Toyota Motor Corp has developed a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) rear-seat center airbag — the first in the world — to help reduce the severity of secondary injuries incurred by rear-seat passengers in a side-on collision.

The new airbag is fitted in a large, fixed, rear-seat center console that comes in a version of a Toyota model to be launched in Japan in the near future, the automaker said. When the vehicle is hit side-on, the airbag deploys from the top of the console to act as a barrier that helps lessen injuries caused by passengers colliding with each other or into the console.

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6 Comments

Disillusioned at 04:09 PM JST - 11th March

Wow! Great invention! however, the dummy is wearing a seatbelt in the back seat! Shame the rest of the dummies in Japan aren't so safety conscious.
electric2004 at 07:51 PM JST - 11th March

So, the car is a 4-seater?
PepinGalarga at 10:02 PM JST - 11th March

what if someone is sitting right in the middle of both seats? happens all the time.
bebert at 05:18 AM JST - 12th March

More weight, more cost, lower fuel economy.
ebisen at 11:36 AM JST - 12th March

bebert - how about using the thing between you ears for a while and think that these airbags SAVE LIVES !! What kind of eco-maniac will care about fuel savings suggesting reducing the number of airbags because of their added weight??
Yelnats at 03:25 PM JST - 12th March

I want to test it out.