Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota Motor has developed a new technology that can identify and prevent accidental application of car accelerators.

Named Acceleration Suppression Function, the new technology uses big data from connected cars to detect abnormal operation of the accelerator and regulate sudden increases in car speed.

With this technology, Toyota seeks to reduce the number of accidents caused when drivers unintentionally step on the throttle instead of the brake.

Starting this year, the company plans to equip new Toyota cars in Japan with this technology. It will also introduce an accelerator control system that can be retrofitted in certain existing cars, offering similar functionality.

The launch of Acceleration Suppression Function follows the introduction of Intelligent Clearance Sonar (ICS) in 2012 and a retrofit pedal misapplication acceleration control system for certain vehicles in 2018.

However, the technology does not require the presence of an obstacle to function, unlike the other two systems.

Toyota developed its new system by assessing accident data caused by accelerator misapplication. This data was then compared with big data procured from connected cars.

By filtering out genuine cases, Toyota identified instances in which the accelerator operated abnormally. This, in turn, allowed the Japanese automaker to devise a function setting that can prevent acceleration, even in the absence of obstacles.

The company also plans to share the operational logic of this function with other automobile manufacturers.

The introduction of the Acceleration Suppression Function is part of the company’s efforts to reduce the number of traffic fatalities.

Last November, Toyota partnered with Weathernews to test on-road weather conditions using wiper data in a bid to improve the safety of drivers in Japan.