Toyotas have long been known for their affordability, and as Toyota Safety Sense (or TSS for short) technology proliferate throughout the brand’s lineup, the appeal of their features-per-dollar ratio grows. Modern driver aids and automatic safety technologies are combined in Toyota Safety Sense. These features make operating the vehicle safer and can step in when there is a threat on the road. TSS is present in almost all Toyota models until 2021. Here are the features of TSS, how it functions, and which models support it.
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How Does Toyota Safety Sense Work?
Toyota Safety Sense operates with in-vehicle hardware and software. Hardware-wise, the view of the road ahead is provided via a camera that is situated at the top of the windshield, behind the rearview mirror. A radar sensor, which is normally mounted in the front or front bumper, supplements that. In addition to other sensors, the vehicle’s back may additionally have radar sensors that track its surroundings. Some TSS features are within your control, while others wait in the background ready to respond in an emergency.
What Features Does Toyota Safety Sense Include?
Toyota Safety Sense has both functions that you might use frequently and others that you should preferably never use.
In an emergency, automatic emergency braking performs exactly what its name implies: automatically applies the brakes. You can find yourself headed for a collision due to a distraction or erratic movement by other drivers. TSS will first alert you to apply the brakes by giving you audible and visual cues. If you don’t, automatic emergency braking begins if it senses a collision is about to occur. In some Toyota models, TSS also recognizes bikes in addition to cars and pedestrians.
One of your favorite TSS features while driving on the freeway will be adaptive cruise control. It automatically keeps a set space between you and the car in front of you. If the traffic in front of you slows down while you’re travelling at a specified speed, adaptive cruise control will slow down your car to keep up. The car automatically accelerates back toward your selected speed as soon as the speed picks up. The majority of recent Toyota vehicles come equipped with full-speed adaptive cruise control, which can both keep the car moving while passing slower-moving traffic passes by and even bring it to a complete stop. However, some older devices only function at speeds more than 25 mph. Below that, you must assume total command.
Lane departure alert and lane tracking assistance are further features of TSS. The lane departure warning system finds instances of unintentional lane crossing. If so, it gives you an audio and visual reminder to turn back into the lane. The majority of more recent Toyotas can also assist with steering so that the car may get back into its lane. Lane tracing help is a feature of models with steering assistance. When the road curves, lane tracing aid maintains the car aligned in its lane and assists with steering. It functions somewhat like a helping hand that steers for you, but not quite.
TSS also has a few straightforward features designed to be useful on regular drives. Road sign recognition is one of them; it can recognize stop, yield, do not enter, and speed restriction signs. If you missed the sign on the side of the road, it will be displayed on your Toyota’s dashboard display as a reminder.
Automatic high beams are another convenience, turning them off when they detect the headlights or taillights of another car in order to not blind other drivers. The high beams turn back on when the road is clear.
Is Toyota Safety Sense Worth It?
We are impressed that Toyota included the TSS safety suite elements in so many of its vehicles because not so long ago, they would have been pricey additions on luxury automobiles. TSS is a fantastic traveling companion. Toyota isn’t the only major automaker that can claim to have these qualities, though. Nearly all of the technology are offered or included by Honda, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia, and other automakers. TSS is not our preferred option in comparison to those equivalents. The lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control aren’t the best, occasionally acting too nervously for our tastes. Thankfully, we haven’t needed to evaluate the automatic emergency braking much, but the automatic high beams and traffic sign recognition appear to function reliably. Because a Toyota has TSS, we wouldn’t expressly choose one. TSS is a great bonus, though, if there’s a Toyota model you wish to customize.
What Toyota Models Have TSS?
Except for a few models, every Toyota vehicle is equipped with the whole set of TSS active safety and driver assistance technologies. The TSS features mentioned above are present in popular 2021 models like the Prius, Corolla, Camry, RAV4, and Sienna. Depending on the model, many of these vehicles also come standard with rear cross-traffic warning and blind-spot monitoring.
The Tundra, Tacoma, 4Runner, and Sequoia are body-on-frame SUV and truck models; these vehicles don’t have full-speed adaptive cruise control, and it doesn’t function below 25 mph.
Toyota cars with sporty rear-wheel drive have few safety measures. Although the Supra features automated emergency braking, lane keep assist, and automatic high lights, the manual-transmission 86 basically does not. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control are all available options for the Supra.
Check out our Toyota Buyer’s Guide for the most recent safety details and facts on the Toyota you’re interested in.
Does Toyota Safety Sense function after dark?
Five new active technologies have been developed for Toyota Safety Sense.
Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert, Automatic High Beam, Pre-Collision System, or Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
The ultimate objective is to lessen traffic accidents as much as possible, making driving safer for everyone in the process and assisting you on your everyday commute.
With the aid of Toyota Safety Sense technology, you and your passengers can avoid potentially hazardous situations and remain safe: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection uses a camera and laser sensors to scan for vehicles ahead and help prevent or mitigate collisions; Lane Departure Alert alerts you if the car inadvertently drifts out of its lane; Automatic High Beam switches beams for safer nighttime driving; Road Sign Assist displays specific road signs on the new TFT display; and Ada. Toyota Safety Sense helps to reduce collision risks through the use of all these active safety features, which could lead to cheaper insurance costs and better driving conditions.
The Pre-Collision System by Toyota Safety Sense employs a camera and a laser to find other cars in the road ahead. Brake assistance is turned on and the driver is warned with auditory and visual alerts when there is a chance of an accident. The brakes automatically apply to avoid or lessen an accident if the driver doesn’t brake in time.
Toyota Safety Sense’s Lane Departure Alert uses a camera to detect the lane lines on the road ahead and alerts the driver with auditory and visual warnings if the vehicle starts to veer from its lane without the turn signal being applied. The driver can then take appropriate action.
The Automatic High Beam feature of Toyota Safety Sense is intended to improve visibility for all motorists while driving at night. A camera monitors the brightness of the streetlights as well as the lights of approaching vehicles and leading traffic. For safer nighttime driving, it alternates between high and low beam automatically.
The Road Sign Assist feature of Toyota Safety Sense keeps an eye on the road signs up ahead and clearly displays vital data, such as the current speed limit or overtaking restrictions, on the new color TFT cockpit display. If you don’t follow the traffic sign signal, the system will additionally issue a visual and audible warning.
Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection from Toyota Safety Sense employs a camera and a radar to look for potential collisions with pedestrians. Brake assistance is turned on and the driver is warned with audible and visual alerts when there is a chance of colliding with a pedestrian. The brakes automatically apply to avoid or lessen an accident if the driver doesn’t brake in time.
The Adaptive Cruise Control feature of Toyota Safety Sense maintains a predetermined minimum distance between you and the car in front. The mechanism slows you down if the distance shrinks, and eventually the brakes will be engaged and the brake lights turned on. If the distance widens once again, it will begin to pick up speed until you reach your selected cruising speed.
Please be informed that the availability of Toyota Safety Sense varies according on the model, grade, and location of purchase. The local Toyota Authorized Retailer will be able to provide you with all specifications and equipment.
Can automatic braking be disabled?
Some motorists still prefer to have total control over their cars. Others assert that AEB systems brake needlessly.
Fortunately for them, most vehicles let you turn your automatic brakes on and off. By 2025, automakers are required by a government order to add an automated braking system. Drivers are not, however, required to keep it turned on by the law.
Insurance companies might mandate that drivers keep AEB on in the future. Or perhaps some cities will mandate the usage of auto brakes inside city borders. And finally, there’s a danger that drivers who turn it off and get into an accident can be deemed to be at fault in court. But none of these things have actually occurred yet; this is all just conjecture.
How quickly does pre-collision help begin to work?
On 2019 model year or newer vehicles, available Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking
Driver-assist features are supplementary and do not take the role of the driver’s awareness, decision-making, or necessity to manage the vehicle.
Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking has some limits, including vehicles moving in different directions and specific weather conditions, although it does not replace the driver and may be especially useful in emergency situations. System restrictions are listed in the owner’s manual.
Your car may be fitted with a special technology that can help detect and possibly prevent frontal collisions with other cars and pedestrians.
Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking is a driving assistance feature that keeps an eye on the road in front of you.
At about 3 mph, Pre-Collision Assist becomes operational. Up to 50 mph, pedestrian detection is in use.
Pedestrian detection can find pedestrians, but not always and it can not take the role of defensive driving. System restrictions are listed in the owner’s manual.
VO: The system will issue a number of warnings and may aid in your car’s slowing down or stopping if it determines that there is a risk of colliding with another vehicle or a pedestrian.
A potential collision with a vehicle in the rear or on one of the sides of the car is not detected, warned of, or handled by the system.
VO: This is how it goes.
The technology can warn you and aid with braking in one of three ways, depending on whether a pedestrian is entering your path or not.
VO: as well as a “Information Display warning for Pre-Collision Assist.
After the warning warnings are delivered, the system’s Brake Support feature will pre-charge the brakes for swift braking if the chance of an accident continues to rise.
To help lessen impact damage or maybe prevent a crash altogether, the system may perform Automatic Emergency Braking without the driver’s input if it thinks that a collision is about to occur.
Once your brakes have been pre-charged, the Automatic Emergency Braking system may use maximum braking force even if you only lightly touch the brakes to help stop your car fast.
One more thing: Using the Information Display and the 5-way control on your steering wheel, you can adjust the alert sensitivity of the system to one of three settings.
A higher level will issue sooner, more frequent alerts whereas a lower setting may send fewer cautions.
Active Braking will return to its initial state “every time the ignition is turned off, enabled
VO: By checking or unchecking the Active Braking function within the same menu, you may also enable or disable Automatic Emergency Braking.
The operation of the Toyota pre-collision system.
A front-facing camera and laser are used by the Toyota Pre-Collision System to identify obstacles in your path and signal when it is time to apply the brakes. It can even stop your car completely automatically if necessary.
Will the car be stopped by Toyota Safety Sense?
If you don’t have active safety controls in place, there aren’t many methods to prevent the accident that occurs when a stray dog darts out in front of you just as you sneeze. The pre-collision technology uses cameras and lasers to detect activity in front of you and provide visual and audible alerts. The system won’t take any more action if the driver responds in time. However, Toyota Safety Sense employs the sensors to automatically apply the brakes to stop the vehicle if the driver is otherwise unable to do so. While PCS cannot completely eliminate the possibility of an accident, it can considerably lower your speed in order to either avoid or decrease the consequences of a collision.
What occurs if I press the Toyota’s SOS button?
When you experience a breakdown, such as a dead battery, a flat tire, run out of gas, or the need to be towed, pressing the SOS button will put you in direct contact with the response center. You no longer need to pay a subscription fee to any other roadside assistance organization when you have Toyota Safety Connect.
When it rains, does Toyota Safety Sense function?
A vehicle may not be recognized by the laser and video sensors in specific circumstances, such as when traveling in bad weather such heavy rain, fog, snow, or sandstorms, or while driving on a curve and for a few seconds after driving on a curve, which prevents the system from working effectively.
How quickly does the Toyota pre-Collision System operate?
The Toyota Pre-Collision system concentrates on this area since it is believed that more than 90% of rear-end collisions occur when the difference in speed is less than 38 mph. Unavoidable crashes are more likely to occur with less severity when this system is in operation.
Worth buying Toyota Safety Sense?
The value of Toyota Safety SenseTM Many motorists won’t ever need to wonder whether Toyota Safety SenseTM is worthwhile. A variety of Toyota models, notably the Toyota Corolla, include this package as standard equipment. Toyota Safety SenseTM is well worth the cost even if it is not standard.