Toyota has taken safety to the next level. While having a set of air bags at the front end of a vehicle is a standard, this top Japanese automaker decided to take it one step further by designing a set of air bags solely for the rear seat. At least you know that you’re not the only one that’s protected in case something bad happens on the road.

According to Toyota, this new rear airbag system will be incorporated into their new Toyota iQ compact car. The new system is currently considered the first of its kind to be released. Its primary responsibility is to keep the head of the rear passenger protected in case of a collision. During a collision, the airbag is deployed from the roof lining located just above the rear window of the vehicle. It then forms a barrier that’s similar to the curtain you have at home. Combined with the headrest, the new airbag system is able to reduce the chances of your passengers’ heads from hitting other parts of your vehicle. It’s also able to limit the impact dealt by the colliding vehicle. This stands out from the regular rear airbags used because it’s not only limited to protecting your passenger’s torso alone.

While the new rear airbag system is only available for the Toyota iQ, don’t be surprised if Toyota one day makes it a standard for all its vehicles. As the old saying goes, Toyota is just taking things one step at a time. I just hope that the company starts walking faster though. Because having this type of system implemented soon doesn’t sound like a bad idea.

Sources: Motor Authority, Edumnds, Left Lane News