Nissan’s safety features go up a gear

A CAR that swerves back into lanes on its own and a video system that makes parking a breeze were part of technological features on display by the Japanese carmaker Nissan.

The technology that reporters tried out in test drives yesterday at a research centre outside Tokyo is part of Nissan's efforts to make driving safer. Similar smart-car features are in the works at most of the world's top automakers, including Japanese rivals Toyota and Honda.

One of the features shown was a more sophisticated version of an existing warning system already available in Nissan luxury cars in the US and Japan that buzzes when the car veers out of the lane.