We picked up our V with AT a week ago. I took the Prius out on the local highway, turned on the LKA and let go of the steering wheel. I know you are not suppossed to relly on it, I wanted to see if it works. It followed the turns in the road and I was impressed! A few days later we took one short trip to Philly that included about 30 miles of PA turnpike. Good lane markings, plenty of turns and low enough traffic to play. The LKA seams to nudge the steering a lot and almost required more effort and more attention to the road than driving without it. Someone in another thread suggested if you let the LKA steer you would look like a drunk as it bounced from side to side of the lane. This is kind of what we experienced. So now I am confused, I have been told it is not an unusual occurrance. How could the system track and follow the road on one occassion and then not keep the vehicle in the center of the lane on a longer trip? We drove 150 miles to DC on the 4th to watch the fireworks at the Washington monument. I suspect the LKA periodically nudges the vehicle away from the center of the lane and waits for the driver to adjust it back. That is how it checks if the driver is holding the steering wheel. The wheel movements and force needed to keep the vehicle in the lane are smaller and lower with the LKA than without it. It takes time to adapt to it. Can someone at Toyota give us a better description of how to use the LKA? Does the LKA check for driver control by periodically nudging the vehicle away from the center of the lane? The manual basically tells you how to turn it on and when it will not work. Not much usefull information there. We purchased the AT package for the added safety features and I do not feel comfortable that we are using the full capabilities of the LKA. What have other people found with the LKA? Thanks, Bob
I had the same initial reaction. Almost seemed like more trouble than it was worth. However, it does follow curves well. Also when I decided not to fight it so much, it got a lot easier. I just tried to let it do its thing as much as possible and hold it just enough to steady it a little. I'm still not convinced its worth using, but I haven't had a really long trip yet. Some people here seem impressed when using it with the cruise control. However, the cruise and the collision avoidance doesn't really need the LKA.
... it's not designed to drive itself.. it for long distance trips.. where you're afraid you might fall asleep... in case you do nod off, the system will try to keep you on the highway.. instead of letting you wonder into a ditch... it really is just a safety system. er.. that's what i've always assumed by the way they describe it. if i ever get a model V... i'll test it too and probably find it's a little touchy. but hey.. at least you don't drift into other cars.. or into that ditch..
The LKA is a great safety feature. I've used it often, but I find I don't use it nearly as much as the ACC. The main use is for those longer drives when weariness or inattention could creep in. I have no problem keeping a car in its lane -- so long as I'm paying attention. I'll use the LKA almost all the time when alone, but when I have others in the car I tend not to use it. The beeping is a bit annoying when there is conversation going on! You know the LKA isn't designed to keep a car in the center of the lane. It is designed to keep the driver from going into another lane. At the same time, it does help the car follow light curves. All you need to do is keep a mininum hold on the steering wheel, with some minimal attention, and the car will stay in its lane.
Yeah, I found it best not to fight it. YOu still have to input a little bit on control but not too much or else you will find it trying to nudge you left and right. I've used it for almost 900 highway miles now on 2 seperate trips and once you get the feel of it I find it very helpful. My dad on the other hand just didn't like it, he says HE wants to drive the car and not have the car nudging the wheel on him. It's not for everyone but if your into gadgets and have a willingness to accept new technology it's fun and safe technology that does work once you get the heng of using it properly.
I don't own a 2010 Pkg 5 with AT, well at least not yet. However, sounds like 1 mad scientist is living up to his name. "I took the Prius out on the local highway, turned on the LKA and let go of the steering wheel." That sounds like a horrible, horrible idea. I agree with V8CobraKid and a priori, everything I've heard in it's description is that LKA is a safety feature. Designed to help on a long monotonous drive, for drift that might happen if a driver is fighting fatigue or inattentiveness for any reason. Seems to me the description of LKA and "how" to use it is pretty much in the name. It's a Lane- Keep- Assist...use it on drives where you think that might be applicable. Also all you that do own it and have used it, how true or untrue is this statement from 1MadScientist original post: "I suspect the LKA periodically nudges the vehicle away from the center of the lane and waits for the driver to adjust it back. That is how it checks if the driver is holding the steering wheel." ??!!! I sincerely hope NOT. I can't believe Toyota would design a "safety system" that would input steering control away from the driver at random intervals as a "test". If it was me, and my LKA seemed like it was doing that, I'd assume a flaw, and if it wasn't a flaw I'd surely NEVER be using it. Just so I can reference everyone on the page thus far, I guess I'm with Paradox's Dad. I want to drive my car, I don't want a computer program nudging the car for me. This whole thread kind of bothers me, as I think it shows how people can overestimate something like LKA, or simply not understand it's intended use. My thought is that it's also something that can give people undue confidence. I'd rather just be driving alert and refreshed and competently driving myself and not have even the subconcious idea in my head that "well if I do drift or nod off, the LKA will help me"....to me if you are driving and incapable of staying in a straight line, or maneuvering a curve? Time to pull over and rest, not hit a button and hope a computer assist can make up for impairment. I don't own it, so maybe I am misjudging but I am just naturally adverse to the idea of my steering wheel "nudging me" as opposed to me "nudging my steering wheel". The problem for me, is I think I would love DRCC....The cruise control that keeps your distance... Hmm...wonder why I'm not adverse to automatic radar controlled braking, but the idea of automatic radar/computer controlled steering bothers me? Sure wish Toyota offered some of these features separately...it's all or nothing on the moonroof AND Solar panel (not sold on solar panel) and it's all or nothing on the Tech Pkg...don't really want LKA. Which might force me to do without leather heated seats, and power lumbar because Toyota sure seems to be forcing people to pay for a LOT of stuff that you may or may not want, just to get something you do want. Frustrating.
You've mentioned two things: nudges beeps Are the nudges always accompanied with a 'beep'? Could you describe or quantify what causes a beep? Excellent thread and something I'm very interested in. One other question about the ACC, if you have a human-sized, cardboard cut-out, say the size of a child, covered with salt-water soaked cloth, will the ACC or accident prevention system alert, alarm or otherwise do anything to avoid an impact? The salt-water should provide similar reflective surface to human skin. I'm really interested in pedestrian accident avoidance, something not really address in the system specifications. Thanks, Bob Wilson ps. I wonder if Mythbusters might do the experiment?
LKA beeps whenever it loses its lock on the lane markers, to let you know it is no longer working, which is stupid, since there's a visual on the screen that tells you the same thing. It may also beep again when it locks back in, but I can't remember. I guess I would expect collision avoidance to be able to see any obstacle that radar can see, including humans and other large critters, but I wouldn't count on it stopping me hard or fact enough, though a priori and I have both experienced it working pretty well.
Mark, Thanks for the reply. The wife and I had a similar experience. The first time we used the LKA it tended to wander out of the lane and felt like we had less control of the vehicle than with it off. I was starting to think it was not worth using. By the third trip I was getting used to making smaller corrections and it stayed in the lane for the 100 miles I drove. It is still wandering out of the lane for the wife. I suspect she just needs more time with it. She lets me play with the new toys and then try to explain them to her. I still think Toyota should provide a better description of how to use the system and warn new owners that it takes time to adapt to it. Bob
We're getting the basic PCS so it will not brake to 0km/h. It will brake to minimise the impact (so you'll hit the object if you're not paying attention, just not as fast as you would've been without the PCS).
Excellent! The risk of injury increases rapidly with velocity. This is good news. I may wait until the 2010 gets in the rental car fleets and then try some experiments. It is so much better to test with a rental. <grins> Bob Wilson
I thought rentals don't usually have the loaded model, it's usually always the base with essentials (e.g. A/C and automatic)?? Well the best way is to try with a pool noodle or similar soft object.
No worries, just install a noise maker in your Prius and all pedestrians will be sure to get out of your way. That will solve all your problems! No need for ACC.
Here's your noise generator: Then of course we'll need something to deal with the excessive tire noise in the 2010 Prius: Of course there is the Lexus version: Don't forget the sporty, Highlander version: As for pedestrians, they need something more mobile: Or even safer: Then there is a personal airbag jacket: Bob Wilson
