Toyota Safety Sense™ (TSS)

Crash protection starts with crash prevention. Collisions that result in injury may be caused by the delay in a driver’s recognition of the situation and their ability to react accordingly. According to NHTSA1 , there were almost 5.7 million reported crashes in 2014—many of which were avoidable. Toyota Safety Sense™ (TSS)2 is designed to help protect drivers, passengers and pedestrians (TSS-P only) from harm. TSS2 is comprised of advanced active safety packages anchored by automated pre-collision warning3 and braking. TSS2 represents the latest milestone in our long history of creating advancements and innovations in safety that have helped prevent crashes and protect people.

TSS Addresses the Three Most Common Accident Types

TSS2is designed to support driver awareness, decision making and vehicle operation over a wide range of speeds under certain conditions. Packaged together in an integrated system, TSS2 features help address three key areas of accident protection: preventing or mitigating frontal collisions3 , keeping drivers within their lane6 , and enhancing road safety during nighttime driving7 . Always drive safely, obey traffic speed limits and laws and focus on the road while driving.

TSS2 will be offered on certain vehicles in the form of two packages: Toyota Safety Sense™ C2 [TSS-C] for compact vehicles, and Toyota Safety Sense™ P2 [TSS-P] for mid-sized, large and premium vehicles.

Toyota Safety Sense™ C2

Toyota Safety Sense™ C2 features three proprietary active safety technologies, and combines a camera and laser for outstanding performance and reliability. The package can help mitigate or prevent collisions in a wide range of vehicle speeds under certain conditions.

Pre-Collision System (PCS) 3 — Vehicle Detection

Anti-lock Brake Systems (ABS) work to prevent a vehicle’s brakes from locking up during hard braking. This helps maximize braking efficiency and effectiveness. Magnetic wheel-speed sensors are used to detect sudden braking. The system responds by temporarily releasing brake pressure and then reapplying optimal pressure to the brakes. This process is repeated rapidly, multiple times per second, to help achieve safe braking while helping the driver maintain steering and vehicle control. Refer to your Owner’s Manual for a list of additional situations in which the system may not operate properly

With Toyota Safety Sense™ C2 , PCS3 uses an in-vehicle camera and laser to help detect the vehicle in front of your vehicle. As there is a limit to the degree of recognition accuracy and control performance that this system can provide, do not overly rely on this system. This system will not prevent collisions or lessen collision damage or injury in every situation. Do not use PCS3 instead of normal braking operations under any circumstances. Do not attempt to test the operation of the pre-collision system 3 yourself, as the system may not operate or engage, possibly leading to an accident. In some situations such as when driving in inclement weather such as heavy rain, fog, snow or a sandstorm or while driving on a curve and for a few seconds after driving on a curve, a vehicle may not be detected by the laser and camera sensors, preventing the system from operating properly.

Lane Departure Alert (LDA)6

If Lane Departure Alert determines that the vehicle is starting to unintentionally deviate from its lane, the system alerts the driver with an audio and visual alert. When the alerts occur, the driver must check the surrounding road situation and carefully operate the steering wheel to move the vehicle back to the center part of their lane. LDA6 is designed to function at speeds of approximately 32 MPH or higher on relatively straight roadways. Refer to your Owner’s Manual for a list of additional situations in which the system may not operate properly.

Lane Departure Alert6 uses an in-vehicle camera designed to detect visible white and yellow lane markers in front of the vehicle and the vehicle’s position on the road. The vehicle’s multi-information display indicates the system’s operating status:

  • The inside of the displayed lines will be empty if the system is not able to detect the lane markings or if the system operation is temporarily disabled on one or both sides.
  • The inside of the lines will be filled in (usually white) if the system is able to detect the lane markings.
  • The inside of the lines will flash on the affected side (usually orange) when LDA6 is operating. This is the Visual Alert

Automatic High Beams (AHB)7

AHB7 is a safety system designed to help drivers see more of what’s ahead at night without dazzling other drivers. AHB7 automatically switches between high and low beams as appropriate to provide the most light possible and enhance forward visibility. Refer to a Toyota Owner's Manual for additional information on AHB operation, setting adjustments, limitations, and precautions.

Automatic High Beams7 uses an in-vehicle camera to help detect the headlights of oncoming vehicles and tail lights of preceding vehicles. AHB7 is designed to function at speeds of approximately 25 MPH or higher. Minimum speed may vary by vehicle.

Toyota Safety Sense™ P2

Toyota Safety Sense™ P2 combines an in-vehicle camera and front-grill mounted millimeter-wave radar for enhanced performance and more functionality. In addition to the three active safety technologies featured in the TSS-C2 package, TSS-P enhances the Pre-Collision System3 by adding a Pedestrian Detection function9, enhances LDA6 by adding a Steering Assist function8 on certain models, and adds Dynamic Radar Cruise Control10.

Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Pedestrian Detection Function - Vehicle and Pedestrian Detection

Vehicle Detection: When the PCS3 determines that the possibility of a frontal collision with that vehicle is high, it prompts the driver to take evasive action and brake, by using an audio and visual alert. If the driver notices the hazard and brakes, the system may provide additional braking force using Brake Assist4 . This system may apply greater braking force in relation to how strongly the brake pedal is depressed. If the driver does not brake in a set time and the system determines that the possibility of a frontal collision with another vehicle is extremely high, the system may automatically apply the brakes, reducing speed in order to help the driver reduce the impact and in certain cases avoid the collision (Refer to the Owner’s Manual for additional information).

Pedestrian Detection: In certain conditions, the PCS3 system included with the TSS-P package may also help to detect pedestrians9. If PCS3 determines that the possibility of a frontal collision with a pedestrian is high under certain conditions, it prompts the driver to take evasive action and brake, by using an audio and visual alert, followed by brake assist4. If the driver does not brake in a set time and the system determines that the risk of collision with a pedestrian is extremely high, the system may automatically apply the brakes, reducing speed in order to help the driver avoid the collision or reducing the impact (Refer to the Owner’s Manual for additional information).

With Toyota Safety Sense™ P2, PCS3 uses an in-vehicle camera and front-grill mounted millimeter-wave radar to help detect the vehicle in front of your vehicle. The in-vehicle camera of PCS3 detects a potential pedestrian based on size, profile, and motion of the detected pedestrian9 . However, a pedestrian may not be detected depending on the conditions, including the surrounding brightness and the motion, posture, size, and angle of the potential detected pedestrian, preventing the system from operating. For vehicle detection, alerts operate when the vehicle speed is between approximately 7 to 110 MPH for potential collisions with a vehicle, while for pedestrian detection, alerts operate when the vehicle’s speed is between approximately 7 to 50 MPH.

Applicable to TSS-P PCS Vehicle and Pedestrian Detection: If the vehicle is stopped by the operation of the pre-collision brake function, the operation of the pre-collision brake hold will be canceled (brake will be released) after the vehicle has been stopped for approximately two seconds to allow the vehicle to move, if necessary. The driver of the vehicle must then determine whether brake or gas pedal application, or neither, is appropriate for the conditions.

Applicable to TSS-P PCS Vehicle and Pedestrian Detection: The pre-collision braking function may not operate if certain operations are performed by the driver. If the accelerator pedal is being depressed strongly or the steering wheel is being turned, the system may determine that the driver is taking evasive action and possibly prevent the pre-collision braking function from operating. In some situations, while the pre-collision braking function is operating, operation of the function may be canceled if the accelerator pedal is depressed strongly or the steering wheel is turned and the system determines that the driver is taking evasive action.

Refer to a Toyota Owner's Manual for additional information on PCS operation, setting adjustments, limitations, and precautions.

Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)

On highways, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control10 functions similar to conventional “constant speed” cruise control in that it helps vehicles travel at a consistent speed set by the driver, but this system adds a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode which assists the driver by adjusting vehicle speed (within a set range) to help maintain a pre-set distance to a preceding vehicle when the preceding vehicle is traveling at a lower speed. If the vehicle ahead is detected traveling at a speed slower than your set speed or within your distance range setting, the system is designed to automatically decelerate your vehicle without having to cancel the cruise control. When a greater reduction in vehicle speed is necessary, the system may apply the brakes and operate your vehicle brake lights. The system will then respond to changes in the speed of the vehicle ahead in order to help maintain the vehicle-to-vehicle distance set by the driver. When there is no longer a preceding vehicle driving slower than your vehicle’s set speed, the system accelerates until the set speed is reached and returns to constant speed cruising. Refer to a Toyota Owner's Manual for additional information on DRCC operation, setting adjustments, limitations, and precautions.

Once a vehicle speed is set by the driver, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control10 uses a front-grill mounted millimeter-wave radar and an in-vehicle camera to detect a preceding vehicle and help determine its distance. The vehicle-to-vehicle distance, or distance between your vehicle and preceding vehicle, can be set by operating the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control. Pressing the button allows the driver to choose from three vehicle-to-vehicle distance settings: Long - Medium - Short.

  • DRCC10 is designed to function at speeds of approximately 25 to 110 MPH. However, vehicle speed must be above approximately 28 MPH to initiate DRCC as that is the lowest set speed.
  • Starting with certain 2016 Prius models, select Toyota vehicles may also feature the new Full-Speed Range DRCC10, which is designed to also cover speeds below 25 MPH. Full-Speed Range DRCC is designed to function at approximately 0 to 110 MPH. Full-Speed Range DRCC10 may enable low speed following, speed matching, stopping, and acceleration/deceleration to a preceding vehicle.

Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Steering Assist Function (Electronic Power Steering (EPS) Equipped Models)

The alert function of LDA6 in TSS-P2 operates the same as TSS-C2 vehicles. If the system determines that the vehicle is starting to unintentionally deviate from its lane, the system alerts the driver with an audio and visual alert. When the alerts occur, the driver must check the surrounding road situation and carefully operate the steering wheel to move the vehicle back to the center part of their lane.

In addition to the alert function of LDA, TSS-P equipped vehicles with EPS will feature a Steering Assist function8. When equipped and enabled, if the system determines that the vehicle is on a path to unintentionally depart from its lane, the system may provide small corrective steering inputs to the steering wheel for a short period of time to help the driver keep the vehicle in its lane.

LDA6 is designed to function at speeds of approximately 32 MPH or higher on relatively straight roadways. The vehicle’s multi-information display indicates the system’s operating status:

  • The inside of the displayed lines will be empty if the system is not able to detect the lane markings or if the system operation is temporarily disabled on one or both sides
  • The inside of the lines will be filled in (usually white) if the system is able to detect the lane markings
  • The inside of the lines will flash on the affected side (usually orange) when LDA6 is operating. This is the Visual Alert.
  • Outside of the filled in lines will flash on the affected side (usually green) if Steering Assist function is operating.

Important Information

1. United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (2014). TRAFFIC SAFETY FACTS 2013.

2. Drivers should always be responsible for their own safe driving. Please always pay attention to your surroundings and drive safely. Depending on the conditions of roads, vehicles, and weather, etc., the system(s) may not work as intended. See Owner’s Manual for details.

3. The TSS Pre-Collision System is designed to help avoid or reduce the crash speed and damage in certain frontal collisions only. It not a substitute for safe and attentive driving. System effectiveness depends on many factors, such as speed, driver input and road conditions. See Owner’s Manual for detail.

4. Brake Assist is designed to help the driver take full advantage of the benefits of ABS. It is not a substitute for safe driving practices. Braking effectiveness also depends on proper brake-system maintenance, tire and road conditions. See Owner’s Manual for details.

5. Results achieved during testing using a vehicle traveling at 19 mph and a stationary vehicle/pedestrian; system operation depends on driving environment (including road and weather) and vehicle circumstances.

6. Lane Departure Alert is designed to read lane markers under certain conditions, and provide visual and audible alerts when lane departure is detected. It is not a collision-avoidance system or a substitute for safe and attentive driving. Effectiveness depends on many factors. See Owner’s Manual for details.

7. Automatic high beams operate at speeds above 25 mph. Factors such as dirty windshield, weather, lighting & terrain limit effectiveness requiring driver to manually operate the high beams. See Owner’s Manual for details.

8. Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist is designed to read lane markers under certain conditions. It provides a visual and audible alert and slight steering force when lane departure is detected. It is not a collision-avoidance system or a substitute for safe and attentive driving. Effectiveness depends on many factors. See Owner’s Manual for details.

9. The Pedestrian Detection System is designed to detect a pedestrian ahead of the vehicle, determine if impact is imminent and help reduce impact speed. It is not a substitute for safe and attentive driving. System effectiveness depends on many factors, such as speed, size and position of pedestrians, driver input and weather, light and road conditions. See Owner’s Manual for details.

10. Dynamic Radar Cruise Control is designed to assist the driver and is not a substitute for safe and attentive driving practices. System effectiveness depends on many factors, such as weather, traffic and road conditions. See your Owner’s Manual for details.

11. Results achieved during testing using a vehicle traveling at 25 mph and a stationary vehicle. System operation depends on driving environment (including road and weather) and vehicle circumstances.