In the past two decades, Toyota has made some of the biggest strides in the auto industry regarding active or preventative safety features. However, the last several years have pushed the Japanese auto giant to the forefront of safety, making them one of the most reputable brands on the road. Today, Toyota has five vehicles with a Top Safety Pick Plus rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. So, let’s take a look at the active safety features, known as Toyota Safety Sense, that make Toyota vehicles some of the safest on the road.
Pre-Collision System
One of the features of Toyota Safety Sense is a pre-collision warning system. This system is automatically engaged as soon as you turn on the car. Using a forward-facing camera and a radar, the system determines if an obstacle or car ahead is in your path. If you’re traveling too fast, the system alerts you with visual and aural cues. In the event of a potential crash, the system then applies the brakes to help avoid the collision or minimize the impact speed.
Pedestrian Detection
Using the same camera and radar as the pre-collision system, pedestrian detection is another advanced safety feature aimed at preventing accidents. The camera and radar also use shape recognition to locate pedestrians. Once a pedestrian enters the path of the vehicle, display and sound alerts warn the driver of an impending collision. If brakes aren’t applied, the vehicle does so automatically.
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
This option, also known as intelligent cruise control, enables the vehicle to decelerate if following too closely to the car in front. To enable, simply turn on your cruise control. Once you start driving, radar cruise control takes over. It slows your vehicle if you become too close to an obstacle, but then it resumes your original speed once you’re clear of any potential danger. It’s not a substitute for paying attention while you’re driving, but it’s a beneficial feature in times of heavy traffic, traffic zones, and other day-to-day driving experiences.
Lane Departure Alert
If you’ve ever had the misfortune of drifting into another lane because you’re distracted, don’t fear. With Toyota’s Lane Departure Alert, you won’t have to worry about entering into the path of neighboring traffic. This system also uses a camera that detects the painted lane dividers. When your car starts to drift too closely to the line or even past it, the panel flashes and emits a beeping sound, letting you know you need to get back in your lane.
Automatic High Beams
Another great active safety feature is automatic high beams. This spec takes the hassle out of turning your brights off and on when driving. Using a camera to find oncoming traffic, automatic high beams turn off when a car comes your way. Once the vehicle passes, they turn back on, making nighttime navigation just a bit easier.
With so many stellar safety features on new Toyotas, crashes are becoming a thing of the past. Still, it’s important to remember that nothing’s better than an alert and safety conscious driver. Nevertheless, this safety gives you one less thing to worry about.
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