When the system detects a supported object, Proactive Driving Assist can operate the brakes and steering wheel to help prevent the Toyota Tacoma from approaching too closely. The assistance is intended to support normal driving inputs while maintaining an appropriate distance from the detected object.
WARNING
For safe use
Safe driving remains solely the responsibility of the driver at all times.
- Proactive Driving Assist is designed to supplement normal braking and steering operations and to help keep the Toyota Tacoma from approaching too closely to a detectable object. However, the amount and range of assistance the system can provide are limited and depend on the applicable driving conditions.
The driver must operate the brakes and steering wheel whenever necessary to maintain safe control of the vehicle.
Read the following information carefully to understand the system's limitations. Do not rely excessively on Proactive Driving Assist, and continue to drive attentively while monitoring the road and surrounding traffic.
- Proactive Driving Assist does not reduce the amount of attention required for safe driving. Even when the system is functioning normally, the conditions recognized by the driver may differ from those detected or interpreted by the system.
The driver must remain attentive, evaluate potential hazards, and make independent decisions necessary to maintain safety. Excessive reliance on the system when driving the Toyota Tacoma may contribute to an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
- Proactive Driving Assist does not permit inattentive driving and is not designed to compensate for poor visibility. The driver remains responsible for observing surrounding conditions, maintaining proper control of the vehicle, and driving safely regardless of whether the assistance functions are active.
System operating conditions and detectable objects
The operating behavior of Proactive Driving Assist and the types of objects that can be detected vary according to the driving situation. The applicable functions and detectable objects for the Toyota Tacoma are shown below.
Vehicle speeds at which the system can operate
- Detectable object crossing the road assistance
Approximately 20 to 35 mph (30 to 60 km/h). Within this speed range, the system may provide assistance when the required conditions for detecting an object crossing the road are satisfied.
- Detectable object on the side of the road assistance
Approximately 20 to 35 mph (30 to 60 km/h). Assistance is available only when the applicable roadside object detection conditions are met.
- Preceding vehicle deceleration assistance
Approximately 15 mph (20 km/h) or more. When the required conditions are satisfied, this function can assist with deceleration in response to a preceding vehicle.
- Curve deceleration assistance
Approximately 15 mph (20 km/h) or more. The function may assist with vehicle deceleration when approaching or traveling through a curve under suitable operating conditions.
- Steering assist within a lane
Approximately 5 to 80 mph (10 to 140 km/h). Within this range, steering assistance may operate to support the Toyota Tacoma's movement within the detected lane when all other system requirements are satisfied.
System operation will be canceled when
- System operation will be canceled in any of the following situations:
- When dynamic radar cruise control or conventional cruise control is operating.
- When PCS is turned off.
- When conditions prevent some or all of the relevant system functions from operating.
- When the P, R, or N shift position is selected.
- When the driver's seat belt is unfastened.
- Brake operation assistance will be canceled in the following situations:
- When vehicle speed decreases to approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or less.
- When the system determines, based on surrounding conditions, that a certain vehicle speed has been reached and brake assistance is no longer required.
- System operation may also be canceled under the following conditions:
- When brake control or output restriction control from another driving support system is operating, such as PCS or drive-start control.
- When the system determines that a detected object has moved away from the vehicle and assistance is no longer necessary.
- Vehicles with SDM (Stabilizer with Disconnection Mechanism): When SDM (Stabilizer with Disconnection Mechanism) is operating.
- When lane markings can no longer be reliably detected.
- When the brake pedal is depressed by the driver.
- When the accelerator pedal is depressed.
- When the steering wheel is operated with more than a certain amount of force, indicating stronger driver steering input.
- When the turn signal lever is moved to the left or right turn position.
WARNING
Situations in which the system may not operate properly
- When lane markings, road boundaries, or other references needed by the system cannot be detected reliably.
- When a detectable object stops immediately before entering the path of the Toyota Tacoma, leaving the system limited time to recognize and evaluate the situation.
- When the vehicle passes extremely close to a detectable object located behind a guardrail, fence, or similar roadside structure that partially obstructs the object.
- When changing lanes while overtaking a detectable object, particularly when the relative position between the Toyota Tacoma and the object changes rapidly.
- When passing a detectable object that is changing lanes or making a left or right turn.
- When objects such as guardrails, utility poles, trees, walls, fences, posts, traffic cones, mailboxes, or similar structures are positioned around the vehicle and may affect object recognition.
- When patterns, markings, paintings, or other visual features ahead of the vehicle resemble the shape or appearance of a detectable object.
- When passing beneath a low structure above the roadway, such as a low tunnel ceiling, traffic sign, signboard, or another overhead object.
- When driving the Toyota Tacoma on snowy, icy, deeply rutted, or otherwise irregular road surfaces that may affect vehicle movement or sensor recognition.
- When a detectable object is approaching the vehicle rather than traveling in the same general direction.
- When the Toyota Tacoma or a detectable object is wandering, swaying, or moving inconsistently within its path.
- When the movement of a detectable object changes suddenly, including a change of direction, rapid acceleration, abrupt deceleration, or another unexpected maneuver.
- When the vehicle rapidly approaches a detectable object and the distance between them decreases in a short period.
- When a preceding vehicle or motorcycle is positioned offset from the Toyota Tacoma rather than directly ahead of it.
- When a structure is located above a detectable object and interferes with the object's visible shape or makes its position more difficult for the system to distinguish.
- When part of a detectable object is concealed by another object, such as large luggage, an umbrella, guardrail, or similar obstruction.
- When several detectable objects visually overlap, making it difficult for the system to distinguish their individual shapes, positions, or movements.
- When strong light, such as direct sunlight or the headlights of another vehicle, reflects from a detectable object and affects the way it appears to the sensors.
- When a detectable object is white or otherwise appears extremely bright, or when its color or brightness is similar to the surrounding environment and causes the object to blend into the background.
- When a detectable object suddenly cuts in front of the vehicle or unexpectedly emerges from beside another vehicle.
- When approaching a vehicle ahead that is positioned perpendicular to the Toyota Tacoma, is angled across its path, or is facing toward the vehicle.
- When a parked vehicle is positioned perpendicular to or at an angle relative to the Toyota Tacoma, making its orientation different from that of normal traffic.
- When a bicycle is child-sized, carries a large load or an additional passenger, or has an unusual overall shape, such as a bicycle equipped with a child seat or a tandem bicycle.
- When a pedestrian or bicyclist is shorter than approximately 3.2 ft. (1 m) or taller than approximately 6.5 ft. (2 m), which may make recognition more difficult under certain conditions.
- When the visible outline of a pedestrian or bicyclist is unclear, such as when the person is wearing a raincoat, long skirt, or clothing that significantly changes the apparent silhouette.
- When a pedestrian or bicyclist is bending forward, crouching, or squatting and therefore does not have a typical upright profile.
- When a pedestrian or bicyclist is moving at high speed and their position relative to the Toyota Tacoma changes rapidly.
- When a pedestrian is pushing a stroller, wheelchair, bicycle, or another vehicle that alters the person's visible shape and movement.
- When a detectable object blends into the surrounding environment, such as in low light at dawn or dusk, at night, inside a tunnel, or under other dark conditions.
- When the lane width is 13.1 ft. (4 m) or more, which may place the lane boundaries outside the conditions expected for normal system operation.
- When the lane width is 8.2 ft. (2.5 m) or less and there is limited lateral space within the detected driving area.
- When the Toyota Tacoma has not yet been driven for a certain period after the engine was started and the system has not reached the conditions required for normal operation.
- While making a left or right turn, or during the first few seconds immediately after completing the turn.
- While changing lanes, or for several seconds after the lane change has been completed.
- When entering a curve, while traveling through the curve, or for several seconds after the Toyota Tacoma has exited the curve.
Changing proactive driving assist settings
- Proactive Driving Assist can be enabled or disabled through the vehicle's customization settings, allowing the driver to choose whether the system is available for use.
- Additional Proactive Driving Assist settings can also be adjusted through the customization menu to modify the available system preferences for the Toyota Tacoma.
System operation display
Depending on the current driving situation and the type of assistance being provided, the corresponding indicators or icons will appear on the display so the driver can confirm the operating status of Proactive Driving Assist.
Certain icons can only be viewed when the display is switched to the driving safety support function information screen. If an expected icon is not visible, check that the appropriate information screen is currently selected.
Hands off steering wheel warning operation
In the situations described below, if the system determines that the driver is not holding the steering wheel, a message instructing the driver to grip the wheel will appear together with the warning icon shown in the illustration. Once the Toyota Tacoma detects that the steering wheel is being held, the warning will be canceled. While using Proactive Driving Assist, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel at all times, regardless of whether the hands-off warning is currently active.
- When assistance is being provided for a detectable object crossing the road or for a detectable object located at the side of the road, and the system determines that the driver is not holding the steering wheel securely.
If no meaningful driver operation is detected for a certain period, a buzzer will sound and the hands-off steering wheel warning will activate to prompt the driver to resume active control.
The warning may also operate when the driver continuously makes only very small steering inputs, because these limited movements may not be sufficient for the system to determine that the steering wheel of the Toyota Tacoma is being actively controlled.
Warning operation after preceding vehicle deceleration assistance has ended
After preceding vehicle deceleration assistance has finished, if the driver does not operate either the brake pedal or accelerator pedal and the Toyota Tacoma continues approaching the preceding vehicle, the display will flash and a buzzer will sound to prompt the driver to decelerate. Once the system determines that the driver has operated the brake pedal or accelerator pedal, the warning will be canceled because active driver input has been detected.
