Nissan announced it will soon begin testing an innovative system that uses cellular phones and other technology to help warn drivers when they are heading in the wrong direction on a freeway. The Japanese automaker anticipates that the warning system may be available on production vehicles in the coming years.

Tests of the system will be done in conjunction with West Nippon Expressway Co., which operates freeways in western Japan.

'The joint project will take advantage of the widespread use and multifunctionality of today's cellular phones,' said the two companies in a joint statement. 'The system will use the global positioning system and a detailed map database to warn drivers about a number of potentially dangerous situations and conditions — including driving the wrong way on expressway ramps, which frequently causes serious accidents.'

Nissan said the system will give the driver audio and visual warnings when the car is going the wrong way on a ramp near a service area or interchange. Text warnings will appear on the car's navigation display if it detects that the car is about to head the wrong way.

Nissan said it intends to reduce by half the number of fatalities or serious injuries in crashes involving its vehicles between 1995 and 2015.