I worry about how much the automatic braking could contribute to highway backups?

Imagine that most cars on the road had this system. One car cutting into a lane could trigger a "deceleration cascade" reaction that could further contribute to those unexplained traffic backups that we all have probably experienced.

The system will do some braking in various scenarios, but its not like it slams on the brakes (other than in extreme situations). It probably does a better job of slowing to just the right speed than most humans.

I'm still missing & lamenting the Gen III (with collision avoidance) that we passed on ... . Trying to not dwell on that, here's another factor. From a products liability angle, it's highly likely ALL manufacturers will rush to standardize this feature, just like side curtain air bags are becoming more popular. Reason being, when technology is available, and manufacturers DON'T implement a proven safty feature ... and the feature would likely prevent the damage ... the manufacturer easily becomes responsible (at least in part) for the injury/damage. So to prevent exposure to negligent manufacturing claims, it's often more cost effective to just implement the safe feature as a standard feature.

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Automatic braking is only activated when the system detects that an accident is unavoidable.

So no, it won't contribute to highway backups. Hopefully, it will make accidents less severe so that highway backups are less severe when they occur.

Can you deactivate the system if you wanted to intentionally run something or someone over?

Roll up your windows so the 'beeps' won't be heard and use "R".

Bob Wilson

Don't know, but it's not going to stop you from hitting something if you want to, only slow you down before you do.

Has anyone actually rear ended a vehicle in a Prius Gen III with the Pre-Collision System?

If yes, what were the details?

How about blind spot accident avoidance? Will that be part of the gov't proposal?

I agree 100%

Some blind spot monitor system only warns you but don't do squat. I read somewhere that Infiniti M class actually intervenes and prevents you from steer into lanes with cars in the blind spot. It also intervenes and prevents you from steer into lanes with cars fast approaching in the blind spot. Blind spot monitoring system should have been integrated into the lane keep assist on our priuses.

I think they took the button away. The manual shows where it is on Page 250 but it's not there on my 2 week old Gen III Prius V Techno. Do you know if it's been removed totally or moved somewhere else? I do not want to disable Brake Assist. I'd just like to make sure that it's enabled so I don't find out the hard way that it's not some day.

You're probably not looking far enough forward to see the button. It's wedged way up there, and quite hard to see unless you're practically on your back on the floor.

And no worries about whether it's enabled - the PCS warning light will be on if you disable the system.

Media reports hyped the non-existant unintended accelleration of the Prius.

Here you guys are attempting "Intended accelleration" ;-)

Thanks for the responses. Two more questions.

Is there any safe way to test this feature to see if and how it works?

Will it actually stop the car and prevent an accident if the driver is totally distracted?