Honda wants zero motorcycle-related fatalities by 2050

Honda wants to prevent motorcycle fatalities with technology

In 2019, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) reported motorcycle accidents were one of the leading causes of death in the country. While there are many factors that could contribute to an accident, the most common is a motorcycle to vehicle collision.

It's an unfortunate statistic, and sadly, it's not only in the Philippines. That's why by 2050, Honda wants to reduce fatalities caused by motorcycle accidents to zero.

Car companies like Volvo, Toyota, and Nissan have made similar commitments a few years ago.

In a recent Honda Press Conference inaugurating its global CEO, its president and representative director, Toshihiro Mibe, revealed Honda’s plans for the future: to make Honda motorcycles safer than ever with the help of technology.

“Honda will strive for zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles globally by 2050,” said Mibe. According to him, to eliminate motorcycle collision fatalities especially in emerging countries, Honda will “continue to strengthen research on safety technologies that enable motorcycles and automobiles to safely coexist and lead the way in realizing a collision-free society.”

In a nutshell, Honda will develop or even co-develop collision avoidance technologies like collision-detection radar in motorcycles, or even software that will allow vehicles to 'talk' to each other (called vehicle to everything [V2X]) and warn each other of the other's presence, therefore making the roads safer.

To achieve this despite the economic impact brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, Honda has committed to invest $45.9-billion in the next 6 years in research and development (R&D) to make Honda motorcycles safer.

In addition to technology-based safety nets for motorcycle riders, Honda will also be proactive in traffic safety education activities and by approaching the issue from the perspective of infrastructure and government policies. Honda will focus also on such areas including strengthening of educational programs and government and industry relations activities.