While vehicle safety has improved greatly over the past few decades, many automakers continue to pour money into research and development to make cars even safer. Toyota is perhaps at the forefront of modern safety technology. The Toyota Safety Sense system is the latest safety program from Toyota that provides preventive collision technology. It gives drivers three key safety elements, including crash mitigation, lane warnings, and nighttime driving enhancement. If you're looking for a car to keep you and your family free from harm, there's none better than one with Toyota Safety Sense. Here's a more in-depth look at some of its amenities.
Pre-Collision System
Toyota Safety Sense helps keep drivers safe by providing proactive measures rather than reactive. That's why Toyota created a
Pre-Collision System, or PCS. Using an in-vehicle camera and a laser, this system detects obstructions in the road, be it a barricade, pedestrian, or another motorist. When it senses these obstacles, it alerts the driver through a series of aural and visual cues. If the driver still doesn't slow down, the system starts to brake automatically, averting a potential collision.
Lane Departure Warning
When you have kids in the car or if you're fiddling with the radio, you stand the chance of veering ever so slightly out of your lane. However, with the Lane Departure Warning system, this problem is a thing of the past. While there's no substitute for attentive driving, Lane Departure Warning uses cameras to see the lines on the road. If the car starts to drift too far out of the lane, the warning system kicks in. Like the Pre-Collision System, it uses sights and sounds to tell the driver to return to his or her lane. The only caveat is that the vehicle has to reach speeds of up to 32 mph before the system activates.
Automatic High Beams
If you've ever driven at night on a pitch-black road, you know just how dangerous it can be. While the Automatic High Beam system doesn't engage your brights automatically, it does provide an innovative way to keep yourself and other motorists safe. Using cameras, it "sees" cars coming from the opposite direction and switches from high-beam to low-beam lights when the car closes to a distance of about 500 feet. Once the car passes, the high beams return, leaving you with excellent visibility, but without all the extra work.
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
Another awesome safety feature of the Toyota Safety Sense system is Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. It functions similarly to traditional cruise control, but it also offers an extra layer of safety. Using the onboard radar, this "smart" cruise control detects other motorists in the roadway. If you get too close to the car in front of you, the system applies the brakes automatically, keeping a safe distance between vehicles.
With these systems in place, Toyota takes the upper hand when it comes to vehicle safety. When you're behind the wheel with Toyota Safety Sense, you'll have peace of mind knowing you're going to make it to your destination in one piece.
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Image via Flickr by Toyota Motor Europe
