Atlantic Toyota and Huntington Toyota customers have been hearing about Toyota’s enhancements in safety for its customers like the addition of Toyota Care for months. Customers are now learning about the new Collaborative Safety Research Center (CSRC) being opened in Ann Arbor, Mich., at Toyota’s Technical Center.
The new CSRC’s main focus will be on reducing the number of traffic fatalities and injuries on U.S. roads by collaborating with partners such as University of Michigan, Virginia Tech, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
“Toyota’s new safety research center will work with leading North American universities and other partners on safety projects that benefit the entire industry,” said Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda in a press release. “Our investment will support collaborative research aiming to reduce driver distraction and increase the safety of vehicles, drivers, passengers and pedestrians.”
Toyota Motor Corp. is estimating a total of $50 million will be given to the CSRC for funding over the next five years. Research will include ways to enhance safety, reduce the risk of driver distraction, and help protect the most vulnerable traffic populations, including children, teens and seniors, which make up 30 percent of U.S. traffic fatalities. Another factor that will be studied is the speed of deployment of active safety systems. It will be evaluated using available accident and human behavior data.
At Michigan Transportation Research Institute, Toyota is supporting its mission to determine the benefits of advanced safety systems by using research and data. At Virginia Tech, Toyota is helping with research for newly licensed teenage drivers to try to find the best methods for teaching and coaching as they are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash according to Dr. Tom Dingus, Director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
Atlantic Toyota customers should know the plan will not stop at these partners; Toyota will reach out across the U.S. to other universities, hospitals and research institutions to invite proposals for research into advanced automotive safety. 
Atlantic Toyota and Huntington Toyota customers should feel safe knowing Toyota is doing more to help not just Toyota owners, but everyone who is on the streets driving.
For more information about the NAIAS, visit http://www.atlantic-toyota-huntington.com or call 888-287-0226.