When Toyota studied the actions taken by Japanese drivers in emergencies, engineers found that half did not apply enough braking pressure to avoid an accident. To help ensure that drivers fully engage the brakes in a crisis situation, Toyota developed Brake Assist, which applies additional brake pressure if it detects so-called “panic” braking in order to help compensate for drivers who cannot or do not press the brake pedal hard enough.
How Does It Work?
Toyota’s Brake Assist technology carefully monitors the speed and force with which the brake is pushed to determine whether a driver is attempting an emergency stop. If an emergency situation is detected, the system applies additional brake pressure to help generate greater braking force.