NTT Data Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and three other companies have developed a safety system using a wireless integrated circuit tag to help prevent traffic accidents involving children.
The i-safety service is still in the experimental phase and will be tested in a 2-sq,-km area in Yokohama's Aoba Ward between December and March, company officials said.
About 100 vehicles equipped with electrical information devices will take part in the testing.
If vehicles come near children with IC tags, receivers installed along the street in such spots as electrical poles and schoolyard gates transmit warning messages saying, "Children nearby. Please be careful," to drivers, the companies said.
The five companies, which also include Its Communications Inc., Trendy Corp. and Tokyu Security Co., said i-safety is expected to be especially useful for people driving in residential districts with poor visibility.
The companies have been testing the IC tag services to help prevent crimes against children since April.
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