Another safety first for Toyota

Toyota claims to have secured another first in airbag technology with its development of a rear centre airbag. The new device should reduce the severity of injuries sustained by passengers in a side-on collision. 

The new airbag is fitted in a fixed rear seat centre console. When the vehicle is hit from the side, the airbag deploys from the top of the console to help lessen injuries caused by passengers colliding with one another.

Toyota has said its rear centre airbag will feature in certain models that will be released "in the near future".