Automated braking will be standard in Lexus and Toyota vehicles next year

Up until now, advanced automatic safety technology was only available on some of the most expensive new vehicles.

Thanks to Toyota, that kind of technology is about to be included as standard equipment on almost every Lexus and Toyota model and trim level in the United States, 25 out of 30 models, to be exact.

Toyota will begin to include the Lexus Safety System + and Toyota Safety Sense packages, which include automatic emergency braking (AEB), on almost every new vehicle by the end of 2017.

This means that Toyota is four years ahead of the of the 2022 industry target announced last week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

“At Toyota, we are committed to creating better ways to move for everyone,” said Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota Motor North America. “High-level driver assist technologies can do more than help protect people in the event of a crash; they can help prevent some crashes from ever happening in the first place. We are proud to help lead this industry in standardizing these systems and bring automated braking to our customers sooner rather than later.”

Some of the technology is already available as a low-cost option on some Lexus and Toyota vehicles, but in these cases, the Lexus Safety System + and Toyota Safety Sense are designed to help prevent frontal collisions – including pedestrians, keep drivers within their lane, and enhance road safety during nighttime driving. Technologies include Toyota’s Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert, and Automatic High Beams.

The technology

The Toyota Safety Sense package will feature:

• Pre-collision System (PCS) – Vehicle Detection, which uses a camera and laser beam to detect the vehicle ahead.
• Lane Departure Alert (LDA), which uses a camera to detect visible white and yellow lane markings in front of the vehicle and the vehicle’s position on the road.
• Automatic High Beam (AHB), which is designed for better nighttime vision.
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which functions similar to conventional “constant speed” cruise control, but adds a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode.
• Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Steering Assist function.