Lexus Develops New Safety Package for 2015

Lexus in 2015 is launching the "Lexus Safety System +" package, a set of active safety technologies designed to help prevent or mitigate collisions across a wide range of vehicle speeds.

Lexus vehicles already feature a wide range of safety technologies and systems based on the Integrated Safety Management Concept. But this latest package is “aimed at further encouraging the uptake of safety technologies,” the automaker said. It will be rolled out across all Lexus models in Japan, North America and Europe by the end of 2017.

Lexus Safety System + integrates several of Lexus's existing active safety technologies: the Pre-Collision System (PCS) helps prevent and mitigate collisions. Lane Departure Alert (LDA) helps prevent vehicles from departing from their lanes. Automatic High Beam (AHB) helps ensure optimal forward visibility during nighttime driving.

As part of a multi-faceted approach to active safety, the Lexus Safety System + package combines millimeter-wave radar with a camera to ensure high reliability and performance.

The Lexus Safety System + includes:

• Pre-collision system with pedestrian detection function (PCS) – This system uses millimeter-wave radar and a camera to detect pedestrians in addition to vehicles. To help prevent or mitigate collisions, the system activates an audio and visual alert in addition to brake assist, followed by automated braking if the driver does not brake in time.
• Lane Departure Alert (LDA) – LDA uses a camera to detect white and yellow lane markings. If the vehicle starts to deviate from a lane, LDA alerts the driver with an audio-visual alert and steering wheel vibration. Some vehicles are also equipped with Lane Keep Assist, which controls power steering to make it easier for the driver to remain within lane markings.
• Automatic High Beam (AHB) – AHB helps ensure excellent forward visibility during nighttime driving. It uses a camera to detect the headlights of oncoming vehicles and the tail lights of vehicles ahead, and then automatically switches between high beams and low beams to prevent blinding other drivers.
• Radar Cruise Control – On highways, Radar Cruise Control uses millimeter-wave radar to detect preceding vehicles and determine their speed. It then adjusts vehicle speed -- within a set range -- to ensure there’s a safe distance between vehicles. By using a forward-facing camera and millimeter-wave radar to monitor vehicles moving into or out of the lane, Radar Cruise Control helps maintain smooth acceleration and deceleration while driving.