Toyota has been on the forefront of getting advanced safety technology onto their vehicles, even in the base model. Until recently, this was unheard of for some brands, even in the luxury space.
For the 2021 model year, the Japanese automaker is upping the ante, delivering Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 to the masses. It includes:
- Pre-Collision System with Low-Light Pedestrian Detection
- Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
- Bicyclist Detection
- Lane Departure Alert
- Automatic High Beams
- Road Sign Assist
Below is a more information about each aspect of the system.
Pre-Collision System with Low-Light Pedestrian Detection
This integrated camera and radar system is designed to help reduce the likelihood of colliding with a preceding car or pedestrian. It is designed to help avoid or reduce the crash speed and damage in certain front-end collisions only. Its effectiveness is determined by a number of factors including speed, distance, and environmental and road conditions.
The pedestrian detection aspect of the system is designed to detect a pedestrian is ahead of the vehicle. If an impact with that pedestrian is imminent, the car will work to reduce its speed to minimize the effect of a possible impact.
Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
This high-tech cruise control uses radar located behind the Toyota badge on most vehicles, plus a camera on the windshield. Together, they work to adjust the vehicle speed, helping maintain a preset distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you. The system is able to be used at speeds under 110 mph, including low-speed follow.
Bicyclist Detection
This aspect of the system works similarly to the way Toyota’s pedestrian detection works. It is paired with the technology of the pre-collision system to lessen the impact of a collision where possible.
Lane Departure Alert
Using a camera on the windshield, the vehicle’s safety system is able to alert a driver when it senses that the car has veered from its lane. However, it’s only designed to read visible lane markers under certain conditions. Visual and audible alerts are provided when the lane is detected as being departed from.
Automatic High Beams
This technology is just as it sounds. A camera on the vehicle’s windshield aids nighttime driving by using a camera to detect headlights and taillights of preceding vehicles. It then toggles accordingly between high and low beams, depending on what is right for the situation.
Toyota’s automatic high beam technology only operates in speeds above 25 mph. Certain environmental factors and vehicle condition requirements must be met to make the technology operational.
Road Sign Assist
This technology also uses a forward-facing camera at the front of the car. Road Sign Assist is designed to detect speed limit, stop, do not enter, and yield signs. It then displays the signs on the multi-information display in front of the driver. If the vehicle is equipped, the signs can also be shown in the head-up display.
