Seeking to advance specific initiatives, in July of this year, the Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) established subcommittees within the framework of the Tateshina Meeting*1, which promotes discussions and the expansion of collaboration among participants with the goal of zero casualties in traffic accidents. The five subcommittees have started their activities with an initial focus on issues such as support for vulnerable road users like children and older adults, accidents involving bicycles and motorcycles, and accidents occurring overseas.
Since their establishment, the subcommittees have set a goal to accelerate, to the extent possible, the realization of achieving zero traffic accident casualties. To date, approximately 140 people from 35 companies have participated. Activities are being promoted in cooperation with the government, local authorities, and relevant organizations based on a three-pronged approach involving cars, people, and traffic infrastructure.
On December 15, 2023, a general meeting was held, bringing together participating members to review the progress of various activities and share insights between subcommittees. Additionally, opportunities to learn from external activities were created, such as inviting a speaker from the Okinawa Prefectural Police Headquarters, which is working on reducing traffic accidents involving ordinary vehicles and rental cars through collaboration agreements with TMF and partner companies*2. Continuous efforts will be made to explore various ways to promote subcommittee activities.
The current progress of the subcommittees is as follows. We plan to disclose updates on these activities as appropriate, starting with the Tateshina Meeting next summer.
| Subcommittee | Progress and Direction |
|---|---|
| Data utilization and visualization of dangerous locations | Outline By integrating various data sets (from participating companies and organizations, cooperating residents, etc.), aim to improve the accuracy of identifying dangerous locations and utilize outcomes to facilitate more effective measures at the community level. Progress
Participants
|
| Safe driving support for the elderly | Outline Aim to eliminate traffic fatalities caused by elderly drivers by maintaining and improving their driving skills and creating a mobility structure that does not rely on private cars while closely aligning with local community lifestyles. Progress
Participants
|
| New awareness-raising activities for children | Outline Develop and implement new methods for raising awareness (utilizing VR, AR, digital twin, etc.) that will enable children to develop the ability to detect/avoid danger without having to experience real-world risks. Progress
Participants
|
| Bicycles and motorbikes | Outline Through public-private partnerships, establish a system that will facilitate communication between vehicles and bicycles, leading to zero traffic fatalities involving bicycles and motorbikes, and develop a new awareness-building method. Progress
Participants
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| Overseas | Outline Focusing on the Asian region, which has a high number of traffic casualties, examine and consider radical measures aimed at reducing casualties, and promote the sharing and expansion of good practices in Japan and overseas. Progress
Participants
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| *1 | The Tateshina Meeting was first held in 2019 as a platform for sharing aspirations and promoting collaboration toward realizing zero traffic accident casualties. It is held during the Summer Festival at the Mount Tateshina Shoko-ji Temple, where top executives from the automobile and related industries gather annually to pray for traffic safety. At the meeting held in July 2023, subcommittees were also launched to further enhance the effectiveness of initiatives towards traffic safety and achieving zero traffic accident casualties. |
|---|---|
| *2 |
Reference 1https://toyotamobilityfoundation.org/en/press-room/release02062023/ |
| *3 |
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Since its founding, the Toyota Motor Corporation has conducted its business activities with the aim of creating a prosperous society through automobiles while respecting all stakeholders, including customers, business partners, employees, and the local communities in which it operates. Accordingly, TMF was established in August 2014 to conduct activities that benefit the public good.
Aiming to realize a mobility society in which everyone can move about freely, TMF is working to solve mobility issues around the world through a diverse range of projects. Going forward, the Toyota Group, working in cooperation with various partners and utilizing the technologies and knowhow it has cultivated through its business activities, will continue to promote undertakings that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while contributing to the realization of a society where people can lead rich and fulfilling lives.
Toyota Motor Corporation works to develop and manufacture innovative, safe and high-quality products and services that create happiness by providing mobility for all. We believe that true achievement comes from supporting our customers, partners, employees, and the communities in which we operate. Since our founding over 80 years ago in 1937, we have applied our Guiding Principles in pursuit of a safer, greener and more inclusive society. Today, as we transform into a mobility company developing connected, automated, shared and electrified technologies, we also remain true to our Guiding Principles and many of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to help realize an ever-better world, where everyone is free to move.
- SDGs Initiatives
- https://global.toyota/en/sustainability/sdgs/
