Toyota Safety Sense was developed because Toyota has always made safety a central priority, long before introducing one of the world’s most celebrated driver-assist technologies. The company operates a specialized division dedicated to advancing safety innovation. In 2011, Toyota launched the Collaborative Safety Research Center (CSRC) to enhance its focus on mobility safety. Since then, the CSRC has worked closely with universities, hospitals, and experts to find new ways to reduce crash injuries, better understand driver behavior, and help prevent accidents. The results have been impressive.
Toyota Safety Research Center Completes 100th Project
Toyota’s CSRC is deeply committed to research aimed at minimizing collisions. Because crashes can have life-changing consequences, every improvement that strengthens occupant protection represents meaningful progress in automotive safety. On June 3, 2025, Toyota announced that its collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AgeLab marked the CSRC’s 100th completed research project.
Reflecting on this success, CSRC Director Danil Prokhorov noted, “This is a significant milestone for CSRC and demonstrates our commitment to Toyota’s vision of a future safe mobility society for all, with the ultimate goal of zero traffic fatalities.” The project with MIT focused on understanding how drivers and pedestrians interact with technologies like mobile devices and in-vehicle touchscreens.
With support from MIT AgeLab scientist Dr. Bryan Reimer, the 100th project highlighted the close partnership between Toyota and MIT. The research delivered key findings, including a dataset on voice-based human-machine interaction and patterns of driver-pedestrian behavior. The team also explored how driver-assist features affect driver behavior and how drivers handle tasks unrelated to driving.
Looking ahead, Toyota’s research center has already planned its next 10 projects. These future collaborations will involve the University of Waterloo, Oregon State University, Ohio State University Injury Biomechanics Research Center, and Auburn University. For now, Toyota is celebrating this major achievement while working to apply the latest insights to improve driver safety everywhere.
Stay connected with us to follow Toyota’s latest achievements and explore the value of its ongoing collaboration with MIT.
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