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Lately, many automakers such as Nissan, Ford and Volvo have begun doing intensive studies and research on vehicle to vehicle communications and vehicle to object communications. These studies are seen as important steps towards vehicle safety. Furthermore, these steps are also necessary for the development of fully autonomous vehicles. Now, Japanese auto giant, Toyota, have begun researching into such technologies and it will be introduced in their vehicles in the near future. Toyota has started full scale testing on vehicle to vehicle communications and also on road to vehicle communications as part of their cause to reduce road accidents through its Intelligent Transport System (ITS) technology. The Intelligent Transport System technology's testing ground spans over eight and a half acres and it is designed to simulate driving in an urban environment. It was built with numerous real-life road to vehicle systems which are able to detect traffic conditions, pedestrians, vehicles, traffic signals and etc. In the future; Toyota and Lexus models will warn or advise drivers, for example pedestrians walking in their path, with an audible signal or alarm and an icon of a person displayed on a screen. While at a traffic junction, an arrow display will trigger to warn drivers that it is not safe to enter or exit the traffic junction. There is also a red light warning system which will deliver a warning tone when approaching a red light. Toyota stated that they will begin testing the system on Japanese roads in 2014 and there was no mention of when exactly the system is expected to be ready. It is expected that only top ranging Toyota and Lexus models will feature such vehicle safety technologies. Image credit: Net Car Show