Urgent Vehicle Aid - Toyota's Test Driver Emergency Response Squad
At the Shibetsu Proving Ground, a key facility for car manufacturing in northern Japan, safety and innovation are at the forefront. Toki, a former test driver, has been transferred to course management and has taken on the challenge of improving the issue of snow poles.
Around 2,000 snow poles are planted each winter, but approximately 30-40% of them become frozen in place and cannot be pulled out. To address this issue, Toki developed a jig to make snow poles easier to remove.
Safety is a significant focus at the Shibetsu Proving Ground. Six members of the course management team wear orange training uniforms and are responsible for responding to emergencies. They are joined by an ambulance and a rescue truck, which are always on standby. Shinji Kataoka, a member of the Vehicle Engineering Development Division's Shibetsu Vehicle Testing Section, supervises the courses and oversees emergency response. Kataoka has received training in cardiac massage, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and treating injuries, and is also a qualified first-aid instructor.
One of the most notable safety features at the Shibetsu Proving Ground is the blue lines painted along the courses and roadside snowbanks. These lines help drivers differentiate between road surfaces and snowbanks, reducing the number of cars that run into snow walls and get stuck. The blue lines are visible during both day and night, ensuring safety even in poor weather conditions.
The blue lines were initially painted using vehicles converted from mini trucks. Today, the ingredients used for the blue lines are harmless to the environment. The exact techniques and materials used for painting the blue lines at the Shibetsu Proving Ground are not disclosed, but it's known that they are designed to withstand snow, ice, and cold temperatures.
The Shibetsu Proving Ground is filled with creative ideas for safe testing. The facility is a testament to the commitment to safety and innovation in the car manufacturing industry.
- To further enhance safety at the Shibetsu Proving Ground, the transportation department could consider implementing technology-driven solutions, such as autonomous vehicles, to minimize human error during testing.
- In addition to safety measures already in place, finance from the industry could be directed towards research and development in the automotive sector to create innovative approaches for clearing frozen snow poles more efficiently, reducing waste and improving overall operations at the proving ground.