TOKYO (Bloomberg) -- A Mazda SUV equipped with an automatic-braking system crashed in Japan on Sunday during a dealership test drive, injuring the driver and front-seat passenger, according to the police.
The Mazda CX-5 was being driven by a prospective customer on the dealership’s parking lot when it crashed through the urethane barrier set up to demonstrate the SUV’s automatic braking technology, according to the Saitama Prefectural Police, which is investigating the accident.
Mazda’s automatic brake system, called Smart City Brake Support, uses a laser sensor to detect obstacles in front of the car to avoid or mitigate the impact of collisions by automatically applying the brakes, according to its website. If the driver accelerates when an obstacle is detected, the system is designed to sound an alert while curbing engine output to stop unintended acceleration.
