Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) is a suite of safety features that’s available on many new Toyota vehicles. Included at no extra cost on select cars, TSS provides added peace of mind and protection when you’re on the road. In 2019, approximately 38,800 people lost their lives due to car crashes and 4.4 million people required medical attention for injuries sustained in car accidents. Though significant, these numbers represent a 2% decline from 2018. Systems like TSS are helping to pull these numbers down.
With TSS on our vehicles at Panama City Toyota, you’ll have access to a full range of innovative safety features that utilize the latest technologies to keep you and your passengers safe.
Pre-Collision System With Pedestrian Detection
The pre-collision system (PCS) with Toyota Safety Sense uses an in-vehicle camera in conjunction with a laser sensor or radar sensor to detect potential collisions, including those with pedestrians. If the system detects a threat, it provides both visual and audio alerts. If you apply the brakes yourself, the PCS may step in with Brake Assist (BA) to offer added force. If you don’t brake, the PCS can apply the brakes independently to help prevent a crash.
PCS offers effective vehicle detection and automatic braking between 7 and 110 miles per hour. Potential speed reduction is possible at speeds of 25 mph and above. Pedestrian detection and automatic braking are operational at speeds between 7 and 50 mph. Automatic braking for pedestrians is functional at 19 mph and above.
Optional bicyclist detection is available with this system as well. This uses the same technology in a manner that’s tailored for bicycles. This feature is available on fewer vehicles than the standard PCS with pedestrian detection.
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) is an advanced cruise control system that maintains a preset distance between your vehicle and the one in front of it. A forward-facing camera and grille-mounted radar monitor the location of the vehicle ahead of you to prevent you from getting too close.
When there is no vehicle in front of you, DRCC will maintain your preset speed so you can travel at a constant rate without your own throttle input. The dynamic radar steps in only when there’s a car in front of you that’s traveling slower than your cruise control speed. If this vehicle is moving significantly slower, DRCC will provide an audio and visual alert and apply the brakes as needed. DRCC works at speeds ranging from 25 and 110 mph. There’s a minimum set speed of 28 mph.
With optional Full-Speed Range DRCC, you can take cruise control to another level entirely with features like:
- Speed matching.
- Low-speed following.
- Stopping.
- Acceleration/deceleration to match a preceding vehicle.
Full-Speed Range DRCC works at speeds between 0 and 110 mph, and also has a minimum set speed of 28 mph.
Lane Departure Alert
Lane Departure Alert (LDA) is a standard feature with TSS that works on roads that have visible lane markings. It’s important to keep in mind that this feature will not work on unmarked roads.
LDA activates at speeds of 32 mph or more. It provides an audio and visual alert when you depart from the lane. Drivers should use their own observation to determine the accuracy of the alert and guide the vehicle back into the lane as needed. This feature is most effective on relatively straight roads and will not work on winding roads.
Steering Assist is available on select vehicles which will perform corrective steering to help the vehicle stay in its lane. The system makes only small corrective inputs and will not provide drastic guidance if you depart from the lane entirely. This feature is only available on Toyota cars that have:
- Toyota Safety Sense 2.0.
- Toyota Safety Sense 2.5.
- Toyota Safety Sense P and Electronic Power Steering.
Automatic High Beams
Automatic High Beams (AHB) use an in-vehicle camera to detect oncoming and preceding vehicles so you can make optimum use of high beams without disrupting other drivers on the road. AHB activates at speeds over 25 mph. It toggles automatically between high and low beams as needed, depending on the presence of other vehicles.
This feature allows drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and apply their attention to the task of driving rather than constantly adjusting their headlights. Using high beams as often as possible makes it more likely that you will see obstructions in the road, while switching to low beams when other drivers are around will optimize safety for everyone on the road.
Lane Tracing Assist
Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) is one of the newer features to join the TSS array. LTA is available on automatic transmission vehicles only. It can be activated when the Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist are enabled. LTA monitors both the lines on the road and the position of preceding vehicles to help you stay centered.
Millimeter-wave radar also engages with this feature to help you maintain a set distance from the vehicle ahead and travel at a set speed. Constant steering inputs help you stay in your lane so you can avoid accidents as often as possible. You must still keep your hands on the wheel at all times, and you will receive an alert if you do not hold onto the wheel. LTA deactivates if you do not keep your hands on the wheel, as this is not intended for use as a driverless technology.
Road Sign Assist
Another new feature of TSS, Road Sign Assist (RSA) is an innovative option that utilizes an intelligent camera to detect stop signs, yield signs, speed limit signs, and do not enter signs. This system will then highlight these signs on the multi-information display (MID) to help bring awareness to these informational displays on the road.
If you’re interested in upgrading to a vehicle equipped with TSS, contact us at Panama City Toyota. We can help you evaluate your options and find the suite of TSS features that’s best suited to your needs.
