Welcome to the Prius Revealed Series – Driving with Confidence
Among the top reasons to buy, many shoppers put safety and security right near the top of their list.
In this session we’ll be looking at some of the new and highly advanced active and
passive safety features designed to make the driver feel more confident behind the wheel.
As you’ll soon discover, Prius’ rigid, reinforced body offers more active and passive
safety features than ever before — many of which are standard on most grades.
We’ll start by looking at active safety features — those designed to help the driver
avoid a collision… Followed by passive safety features — those
designed to help protect occupants in the event of a collision.
Like all Toyotas, Prius comes equipped with Toyota’s Star Safety System –standard.
It includes a suite of six active safety features that use braking, traction and stability control
to help protect the driver and passengers. And now 2016 Prius buyers can get their vehicle
equipped with a new multi-feature active safety package called Toyota Safety Sense P.
Available on Prius Three and Prius Four and standard on Touring models, this system does
not replace the Star Safety System, but is designed to provide an extra layer of safety
by grouping all of the latest active safety technologies into one package.
Let’s take a minute to explore each of its advanced features.
Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection uses advanced radar technology and a camera
to warn the driver of a possible collision and can apply the brakes and automatically
retract the seatbelts if a collision appears imminent.
If the system detects that the risk of a frontal collision with a pedestrian is high, under
certain conditions, it prompts the driver to take evasive action followed by Brake Assist.
If the driver does not apply the brakes in a set time, the system may automatically apply
the brakes to reduce speed and help avoid a collision or reduce the force of impact.
Also part of the Toyota Safety Sense P is Lane Departure Alert which notifies the driver
when the vehicle appears to be drifting out of its designated lane via visual and audible alerts.
An added function on Prius, Steering Assist can apply a small amount of steering force,
when needed, to help keep the vehicle in its designated lane.
Automatic High Beams can detect oncoming vehicles from as far as 2,000 feet ahead. Depending
on conditions, they will automatically switch the high beams on or off to help reduce the
glare to oncoming vehicles for added safety.
Available Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) takes cruising to the next
level. Using forward-sensing radar technology and an intelligent camera, the system can
detect the speed and distance of the vehicle traveling directly ahead of you and adjust
your speed accordingly. It works in traffic, as well, helping you maintain a preset following
distance, slowing when the preset distance shortens, then accelerating back to your original
cruising speed when the road clears.
Currently, Prius is the only Toyota vehicle that offers Full-Speed DRCC as part of Toyota Safety Sense P.
Standard on all Prius models, the Vehicle Proximity Notification System is an advanced
hybrid-exclusive system that alerts pedestrians when the vehicle is operating in the quieter,
electric-only mode. The pedestrian is alerted via a small, on-board
speaker when the vehicle is operating at speeds under 10 miles per hour.
Prius is more agile than ever but Toyota didn’t stop there. Included in the optional Premium
Convenience Package available on Prius Four and Prius Four Touring, Intelligent Parking
Assist with Intelligent Clearance Sonar makes parking easier and more convenient. Using
ultra-sonic wave sensors, the Intelligent Parking Assist system offers automatic steering,
parking guidance and provides parallel parking, reverse parking and departure support functions.
Intelligent Clearance Sonar helps prevent collisions with the addition of two new features
to the previous system: drive force suppression and brake force control.
Active at speeds under 10 miles per hour, drive force suppression limits acceleration
force to help avoid a collision. Brake force control automatically applies
the brakes and reduces vehicle speed, while also alerting the driver via visual and audio
alerts that a collision may be unavoidable. Standard on all Prius models — is a backup
camera that seamlessly integrates with the audio display to help make operating the Prius
in reverse more safe and convenient.
Safety-conscious buyers will be glad to learn that in addition to three-point seatbelts
for all seat positions, Prius comes with 8 standard airbags. One of them is new. Can
you detect which one? Included are Advanced Airbags for the driver
and front passenger; driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, driver’s knee
airbag, front and rear curtain shield airbags and new to Prius: a front-passenger seat cushion airbag.
Have you uncovered everything there is to learn about the new Prius?
Remember — there are five different sessions to explore. And with each visit you’ll gain
more interesting facts about the newest version of the world’s best-selling hybrid.