Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)

Honda's new CMBS technology can actually predict collisions, to reduce both the impact on occupants, and damage to the car.

Research shows that one of the most common causes of car accidents is the delay between a driver acknowledging an oncoming accident and taking evasive action. As a result, Honda has concentrated on pre-crash developments like CMBS, which aims to improve the car's response to critical situations. It is particularly effective in avoiding or minimising 'rear-end' shunt incidents.

The system is made up of three main parts: a millimetre-wave radar sensor in the front grille of the car, a brake actuator and a motorised seatbelt tensioner. If the radar sensor recognises a collision is imminent, CMBS reacts in the following way:

1) The driver is given an audio warning, and a visual 'Brake' warning on the dash display.
2) If no action is taken, the audio/visual alarm is given again, an E-tensioner lightly tugs at the seatbelt as a further warning, and light braking is applied automatically.
3) If still no action is taken and the system decides a collision is unavoidable, strong braking is applied with strong seatbelt retraction.


It is important to note that the system will not bring the Legend to a total stop. It is a driving aid to help the driver to avoid an accident, or lessen the impact of a crash. As with all Honda driving aids, the driver remains in control at all times.


Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS)

Also available on the Legend is Honda's Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS), which debuted on the Accord in early 2006.

ADAS comprises a Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) technology. These state-of-the-art driving aids both improve safety levels and reduce driver fatigue.


LKAS - Lane Keeping Assist System

LKAS recognises the lane the vehicle is travelling in using the images from a camera mounted inside the upper front windscreen and applies the appropriate input to the EPS (Electric Power Steering) to help keep the car in its lane, thereby reducing the burden of motorway (or similar road) driving and enhancing driver comfort and safety. It then calculates the optimum steering torque - a combination of human input (minimum 20 per cent) and the assisted steering torque (maximum 80 per cent) - to keep the vehicle in the centre of the lane. A continuous beep sound will be emitted when the vehicle is about to cross the lane marking.

The Lane Keeping Assist System operates when the following conditions are fulfilled:

1. On roads with left and right lane boundary markings (where markings are clear and visible)
2. On motorways or roads that are equivalent to motorways (excluding sharp curves/bends)
3. At vehicle speeds between 45 and 112mph
4. Driver has to keep contact with the steering wheel - if the system fails to recognise driver's inputs on the steering, it switches itself off automatically
5. Side indicators are not activated
6. Steering torque generated by the driver does not indicate imminent lane change manoeuvre
7. Only operates on bends that have a more than 200 metre radius, any tighter than this and too much steering torque is required from the LKAS system

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