While cars allow mobility for all, they are also inextricably linked to traffic accidents.
Cars made with the intent of helping people can also become a source of deep grief.
This project has a growing circle of supporters who share a desire to help change this sad, painful reality.
A trial began in December 2024 to use dashcam footage from buses and taxis in Kyoto City to aid in rescuing injured people and fighting fires.
This initiative, which uses dashcams in the streets as extra eyes for the fire department, is called Drive Recorder 119. It is a partnership between Kyoto City, Toyota, and ten bus and taxi companies. This is the second city to introduce the initiative in Japan after Sakai in Osaka prefecture.
Not long after it began, that initiative was instrumental in minimizing damage from a forest fire.
Sakai began the trial in October 2023 and implemented the service in full from this April .
With an expanded list of cooperating companies, dashcams have been installed in 800 vehicles, double the number used during the trial. Every second counts when it comes to vehicle accidents. In Sakai, doctors have been able to provide medical care up to 15 minutes faster than before.
The ultimate dream of a mobility society is to eliminate all traffic fatalities and injuries. The challenge of meeting the needs of those calling for help continues, with the hope of bringing that future even one day sooner.