The Emergency Driving Stop System is designed to automatically decelerate and bring the Toyota Tacoma to a stop within its current lane if the driver becomes unable to continue driving, such as during a medical emergency or another situation in which the driver is no longer responsive.
While LTA (Lane Tracing Assist) is controlling the vehicle, the system monitors for driver input. If driving operations are not detected, such as when the driver is no longer holding the steering wheel, and the system determines that the driver is unresponsive, it can gradually reduce vehicle speed and stop the Toyota Tacoma within its current lane. This action is intended to help avoid a collision or lessen the severity of an impact.
WARNING
For safe use
- Safe driving remains solely the responsibility of the driver. Always pay close attention to traffic, road conditions, and the surroundings while operating the Toyota Tacoma. The Emergency Driving Stop System is intended only to provide assistance during an emergency in which the driver has difficulty continuing to drive, such as after a medical emergency. It is not designed to compensate for drowsy driving, poor physical condition, distraction, or inattentive driving.
- Although the Emergency Driving Stop System is designed to decelerate the vehicle within its lane and help avoid a collision or reduce the severity of an impact when the driver appears unable to continue driving, its effectiveness can vary depending on road, traffic, vehicle, and other operating conditions. Therefore, the same level of assistance cannot be guaranteed in every situation.
If the required operating conditions are not satisfied, the system will not activate.
- After the Emergency Driving Stop System has operated, if the driver becomes capable of driving again, resume control immediately. If continued driving is not appropriate, move the vehicle to the shoulder or another safe location when possible, and use a warning reflector and flare as necessary to alert other road users to the stopped vehicle.
- After system operation, passengers should assist the driver as necessary and take appropriate measures to reduce further risk. This may include moving to a safer location, such as the road shoulder or an area behind a guardrail, when conditions allow.
- The system evaluates the driver's condition primarily through detected steering wheel operation.
Because of this method of detection, the system may activate even when the driver is conscious but intentionally refrains from operating the vehicle for an extended period. Conversely, it may fail to determine that the driver is unresponsive in some situations, such as when the driver is leaning against the steering wheel.
Summary of the system
Operation of the Emergency Driving Stop System is divided into four separate control states, each representing a different stage of intervention.
During "warning phase 1" and "warning phase 2", the system attempts to determine whether the driver remains aware and responsive while issuing warnings and controlling vehicle speed. If the Toyota Tacoma continues to detect no appropriate driver response, the system advances to the "deceleration stop phase" and then the "stop hold phase", gradually slowing and stopping the vehicle. After the vehicle has stopped, the system continues operating in the "stop hold phase".
Operating conditions
The Emergency Driving Stop System can operate when all of the following conditions are satisfied:
- LTA is turned on and available for operation.
- The Toyota Tacoma is traveling at approximately 30 mph (50 km/h) or higher.
Operation cancelation conditions
Emergency Driving Stop System operation will be canceled under any of the following conditions:
- When LTA control is canceled, such as when the LTA switch is pressed.
- When dynamic radar cruise control is canceled.
- When the system detects driver input, including gripping or operating the steering wheel, depressing the brake or accelerator pedal, operating the parking brake, pressing the hazard light switch, or using the turn signal lever.
- When the driving assist switch is pressed during the stop and hold phase.
- When the engine switch is changed from ON to OFF.
- When conditions prevent some or all of the applicable system functions from operating.
LTA control when operation is canceled
If Emergency Driving Stop System operation is canceled, LTA control may also be canceled depending on the system state and the circumstances at the time of cancellation.
Warning phase 1
If no driving input is detected after the hands-off steering wheel warning has activated, an intermittent buzzer will sound and a message will appear to alert the driver. During this stage, the system evaluates whether the driver is responsive. If the driver does not perform an operation such as firmly gripping the steering wheel within a certain period, the Toyota Tacoma will progress to warning phase 2.
Warning phase 2
After warning phase 2 begins, the buzzer sounds at shorter intervals and a warning message remains displayed while the vehicle starts to decelerate gradually.
If the system continues to detect no appropriate driver operation, such as gripping and controlling the steering wheel, for a certain period, it will determine that the driver is unresponsive and transition to the deceleration stop phase.
While the Toyota Tacoma is slowing during this phase, the brake lights may illuminate depending on the road conditions and the amount of deceleration being applied.
Deceleration stop phase
Once the deceleration stop phase begins, the buzzer sounds continuously and a warning message is displayed while the vehicle progressively slows to a stop. After the Toyota Tacoma has come to a complete stop, the Emergency Driving Stop System automatically transitions to the stop and hold phase.
Stop hold phase
After the vehicle has stopped, the parking brake is applied automatically. During the stop and hold phase, the warning buzzer continues to sound continuously and the emergency flashers (hazard lights) operate to alert surrounding drivers that the Toyota Tacoma has stopped because of an emergency condition.
Restricted functions after the operation is canceled
Once the system has entered the deceleration stop phase, the following function will remain unavailable until the engine is restarted, even if Emergency Driving Stop System operation itself is subsequently canceled:
- LTA
