Safety Glossary

Active Safety

Active safety focuses on preventing accidents from occurring. It covers parking and driving support technologies (such as Intelligent Parking Assist), all of which are designed to enable the driver to avoid potential risks. The Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system takes active safety even further by detecting the driver's intensions and electronically activating various safety systems to make the car more responsive and enhance overall dynamic performance.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

Adaptive Cruise Control is a system that controls the accelerator and brakes to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. When the vehicle in front slows suddenly, the system issues a warning sound and a display prompting the driver to apply the brakes. If the driver does not respond in time, the system is designed to bring the vehicle safely to a complete stop.

Airbags

Airbags play a vital role in preventing further injury to car occupants in case of a collision. The SRS Twin-Chamber Airbag features an advanced shape: its two chambers create a depression in the centre of the airbag upon deployment, thereby dispersing the physical impact of the airbag over a wider number of areas on the passenger and helping to reduce the potential for injury.

Blind-Corner Monitor

Toyota’s Blind-Corner Monitor uses a camera with a built-in prism installed in the middle of the front grille of the vehicle which sends a picture to the display screen inside the car. This minimises the danger of collisions when approaching crossings or ‘T’ junctions. When reversing, a compact rear camera helps the driver see vehicles and obstacles behind the car on a colour monitor.

Driver’s Knee Airbag

Toyota was the first company to introduce a driver’s knee airbag which reduces the risk of injury to the driver’s legs and lower body in the event of a collision.

Passive Safety

The development of cutting-edge passive safety technology is necessary to protect occupants in the event of an accident.

Vehicles must be designed to absorb the energy of the impact from a collision using a framework with crumple zones to provide additional resistance to deformation and greater protection for occupants. Passenger cabins and door structures must be reinforced, to facilitate escape and rescue after an accident.

Toyota recognises that injuries are often caused by what happens when vehicle occupants strike parts of the interior of the vehicle cabin during a collision. The company therefore strives to design car interiors that absorb secondary impact energy and minimise the possibility of injury to vehicle occupants.

Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)

Vehicle Stability Control automatically helps to control a vehicle when it starts to slide - due to a sharp turn at too high speed, for example. A variety of electronic sensors tell the car's Electronic Control Unit, or ECU what the car's condition is, and what the driver is trying to do. Using this information, the VSC system activates the individual brakes as needed and controls the throttle to help maintain stability and keep the vehicle on course.