Rear parking sensor on Limited "BRAKE!"s and prevents bumper damage

I wish that I had the nerve to test some of these safety features. I don't want to find out what happens if I don't respond to the "BRAKE" in time.

 

I wondered if something like a refrigerator delivery carton would work as a test and not damage the car if it did not.

 

Just FYI, I turned off the BEEPS and Pop-up warnings on my newly purchased 2021 PP Ltd before even driving out of the dealer's lot, but I have not touched any of the safety features settings. The only safety feature I have activity selected to be OFF is Road Sign Assist (RSA) because it does not give me useful information and it is not compatible with a split-screen display I really like to see on my dash. Also, I almost never turn on the LTA system. And only use DRCC if I am on a long trip on the highway which is a very rare occasion for me now. That being said, I have not had to use the Intuitive parking assist on my car. I probably will never have a chance to use that functionality. Furthermore, if I had a choice of buying a LE model for $5K less than Ltd, I would have gladly picked the LE over Ltd.

Not sure why you thought I disable all electronic safety features on my car. You can read the list of things I did on my first day:
To Do list on my third Prius Prime | PriusChat

EDIT: Oh, yes, there was one more thing I DID turn OFF intentionally. I opted out of Safty Connect Service. Yeah, I never know when I would need help. But I really don't want a surveillance system in my car.

 

Yeah, I don't need BSM most of the time, but I have not turned off the BSM. It has indeed lit up maybe 2-3 times, so I know it is working. 99% of the road I drive is one lane on each side, country road. On a multi-lane road where I need to change lanes, it may be useful, but I can adjust the side mirror to eliminate most of the blind spots, and I still do old-school glance over the shoulder maneuver. Certainly, I do not find BSM and other added safety features on the Limited trim of PP essential or worth $5K over LE.

 

The other feature that comes with the BSM is the cross traffic radar. That's the one where radar is hidden in the rear fenders and it raises an alert when a car or other traffic approaches from either side. This allows you to back out of a parking space where you have SUV's on either side and no way to see oncoming traffic. It's a feature that comes into play every time I go to the store.

 

I have a tight garage and can attest that auto brake works wonderful at slow speeds - creep into the garage until the car auto stops, then an inch more and I'm snug in - at road speed if the BRAKE warning comes on you most likely will not avoid a crash - just hit the lead car at a slower rate increasing the change that you will live....thanks mother Toyota

As to BSM/CTA, it works on pedestrians as well, had some numpty walk right behind my backing out car in a parking lot and bang, on came the auto brake - nice feature - great car - very happy with my 22 limited on which I installed a nice cat shield installed last weekend - rest easier for sure

 

I'm visiting my 90 year old mom and took her to a store yesterday. As I pulled into a parking space I just kept going forward till the alarms sounded. Mom's hand was on the dash and her foot was looking for the brake. We came to a stop with inches to spare.

She looked at me, smiled and called me lazy. I smiled back and agreed 100%. I do love the new features.

 

Full range cruise control - best new feature ever eh?

 

I must say I did not expect to use the "helpers" but I have! ON my recent 2600 mile RT down thru New England and the mid-Atlantic, I got to know the lane keeper and radar cruise control. I tend to run with the faster traffic, but it was definitely easier on the nerves to have both of these engaged. I would notice my speed dropping a bit (left lane) and only then notice I was gaining on a "left lane Louie," as I term the critters who love to hog the passing lane to cruise at 5 above or so... And, coming up the Merritt Pkwy, where sudden standstill traffic is frequently encountered in a mostly 65 mph stream, it was simply marvellous, even slowing me to a complete stop without touching the brake, (Yes, I experimented). The lane keeper is interesting, too. It kind of lets you relax your steering effort and ride the centre of your lane, with only the gentlest reminders when you begin to creep off centre line. Kind of like driving one of those tracks that has the raised pavement on the corners - it feels just like that as it begins to gradually apply the lane keeping force to the steering. Means I do less sawing on the steering wheel, which equates to less fatigue after a 12 hour day behind the wheel. Also, if you just "forget" to signal, you can override that resistance and change lanes, with the "beep-beep-beep" sounding to remind you of your offense! But you can indeed execute needed sudden movements, so that's good. Surprisingly valuable assistance.