Honda steers the way to safety
04 August 2005
Honda has unveiled a radical semi-automated steering system to help motorway drivers avoid drifting out of lane.
Honda has unveiled a radical semi-automated steering system to help motorway drivers avoid drifting out of lane.
The technology – dubbed Lane Keeping Assist System – works by scanning the road ahead of the car with a small windscreen-mounted camera. The camera can read markings and provide feedback to the electric power steering to keep the car in the centre of its lane.
The lane-keeping system will be offered as an option on the face-lifted Accord family car, which arrives early next year.
Adaptive cruise control, which automatically adjusts the car’ distance from the vehicle in front, will also be an option in the new Accord. The price has yet to be announced but, if the cost in Japan is an indicator, it is likely to be at least £1000.
The new Legend executive car, also due in 2006, will have both systems fitted as standard.
What Car? testers have driven a specially prepared version of the current Accord fitted with both systems.
Features editor Richard Headland said: 'The lane-keeping system is slightly disconcerting when the steering wheel first moves beneath your hands, but it does feel reassuringly smooth and precise.'
The driver must apply at least 20% of the steering effort to ensure they are still safely and legally in control of the car. If the lane-keeping system detects that the driver has both hands off the wheel, it will switch off after 10 seconds, and warn the driver with a message on the dash and by beeping.
When the driver wants to change lanes, the indicator temporarily cancels the steering assistance until the new lane markings are detected. Failure to use the indicator results in steering resistance when moving out of lane, but this would be easy to overcome in emergency situations.
The adaptive cruise control is similar to that offered on several executive and luxury cars, but the Accord will become the first family car to offer the system.
For more details and pictures of the face-lifted Accord, visit Whatcar.com on September 1.
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