LANE KEEP ASSIST/Centering - do you use it?

My first post, and I just got my Tundra (my first, coming from a F150) on Wednesday so still trying to figure everything out but Im getting confused by the different terms. Can someone explain steering assist, to lane centering, to lane departure system? Are steering assist and lane departure conceptually the same just different names?

 

"Steering assist" is just a generic term used to describe any feature that automates the steering. Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) is Toyota's official name for the overall system that includes Lane Departure Alert, Vehicle Sway Warning, and Lane Centering.

Refer to page 247 in your owner's manual for a full description of each feature. Also note the several pages of warnings that describe the multiple limitations of the LTA system.

Matt

 

Best response possible. Refer to the official documentation (the manual).

 

Thank you both, I think where I was getting more hung up even reviewing the manual was differentiating. I went back again to it after posting my question (short sighted I should have done an additional review prior to posting) and my understanding was:

• Lane Departure is just alerts/vibrations if the truck is getting outside of the lines
• Steering Assist - Lane departure with the truck moving the wheel itself to get you back in the lines
• Lane Centering - only with cruise control, truck "drives" itself keeping you in the lane.

Please tell me if this understanding is incorrect. Regardless I should go back out to my truck as I must have missed Steering Assist in the settings as I found the setting for Lane Centering but didnt remember seeing the Steering Assist option.

Again, thank you both.

 

There is no "Steering Assist" option. Again, that's just a generic term used when the LTA system automates the steering under certain conditions while using Lane Departure and/or Lane Centering.

Lane Departure scared the crap out of me, and nearly caused an accident, the first time it tried to control the steering when I was merging onto the highway. I was coming home from the dealership after purchasing my truck, and I didn't even know it was on. Apparently it didn't like the fact that I neglected to use my turn signal.

Lane Centering is just a poorly implemented "bar trick", IMO. There are so many conditions that seem to confuse the system...curves, exit ramps, less than perfectly marked lanes, etc, etc... Even on a straight away well marked road, the feature is annoyingly jerky as it ping pongs back and forth in the lane. If you let go of the wheel for a few seconds, it sounds an alert or vibrates the wheel. So there's really no point to it. If you have to be holding the wheel anyway, you might as well steer yourself since you can do it much more smoothly.

Cue the fan boys who claim their Lane Centering works perfectly, and they love it, in 3...2...1...

Matt

 

Thank you! Its now making sense. I definitely didnt get that from reading the manual.

 

FIFY

 

As I said earlier, it's not a feature I use. I did play around with it some today and the implementation really is pretty lousy compared to versions in other cars I've got. If you're on a divided highway that has hash marks at the exit/entrance ramps it will work better. That's usually a tell for a Ford "Blue Cruise" road. It works better but still not great.

 

If you hate this truck so much, which you have clearly demonstrated, go buy something else. Its really easy, just drive to a Chevy lot and say " I want that"....the rest takes care of itself

 

Yes, you are understanding it exactly correct with the nuances between the modes. Ignore the others.

 

Forget it Donnie, you’re out of your element!

 

Who is Donnie??

 

I don't use it for driving locally but use it on trips. Works as intended.

 

So much to process here, but key conclusion is it would be unsafe for you to further attempt to use this feature. It’s safe use requires a modicum of aptitude and study to allow the driver to operate it safely. However you are more interested in claiming false equivalence. You intentionally compare the Tundra to top end German luxury import in this one very specific feature. Then stand in judgement that the Audi outperforms in this one area better and dismiss Toyota’s engineering as a “bar trick”.

It’s a Toyota pickup for god sakes. And yes under limited conditions it can help you keep the truck centered in a straight lane and following traffic ahead of it at a safe distance and it does it bloody well, but that’s it. It’s not self driving nor has anyone except folks like you given that false expectation.

What’s next compare it to an Audi hybrid and tell us how much better the mpg are?

 

You still don’t get it, sport. But that’s not surprising. Keep trying.

Matt.

 

Consumer Reports ranked Driver assistance systems across 12 makes back 3 months ago. Below is their ranking of each make's system for 2023 models ranked best to worst. They placed great emphasis on how safely they felt the implementation was. This hurt Tesla even though its highly capable. They still gave Toyota a 9 out of 10 on Capabilities and Performance.

1. Ford Blue Cruise
2. GM Super Cruise
3. Mercedes Benz Driver Assistance
4. BMW Driving Assistance Professional
5. Toyota Toyota Safety Sense
6. Audi Adaptive Cruise Assist
7. Tesla Autopilot
8. Rivian Highway Assist
9. Nissan ProPilot
10. Honda Sensing
11. Volvo Pilot Assist
12. Hyundai Highway Driving Assist

PS
They stated those expecting a car that can drive itself in 2023 will be sorely disappointed.
Their recommendation to those like Matt2015 Tundra holding that expectation: "Get a bus pass."

 

You are correct, but some of us can't be bothered with too much technical detail.

 

Your username got me dead though.

 

I just did a 3,000 mile road trip from Florida to New York and back. 90% of it was on I-95 and I used the dynamic cruise and lane centering just about the whole time. Going up I was towing a trailer with a car on it and coming back was just the truck. I never had any issues, never experienced the so-called ping-pong effect. I had a passenger who easily gets car-sick and she never said anything. I don't know why some people's experience is different, but it works for me.
I do acknowledge that there are times when it can't recognize the lane lines and turn that function off until it can pick it up again (road work areas or faded lines, off-ramp gores etc.) so you can't just sit back with your arms folded or read a book; you still have to actually drive the truck, but it is a lot more relaxed than not having it; especially driving 22 hours straight through.

 

I didn’t thing the centering thing worked in tow haul mode , I didn’t try that on the way up

but the radar cruise is sweet on the open road with only a little traffic , I always turned it off in heavier traffic while towing as people cut in too much and it breaks too hard

I found I can get better mpg easily without cruise though but I don’t really care that much , this truck got way better mpg than my last one anyways

 

The so called "ping pong" aka "driving like a drunk" aka "drifting back and forth between the lines" are generally users who have engaged lane departure and not lane centering which has several more thresholds to activate.

 

Very well said!

 

Good point, CC killed MPG on last generation with 6 speed transmission. 10 speed really helps with this one.

 

Through a collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Agelab, Toyota will establish metrics and evaluate the benefits of automated lane centering support. During this project, the research team will evaluate real-world data to gain a better understanding of the primary and secondary advantages of automated lane-keeping assistance.

https://www.automotivetestingtechno...r-reveals-latest-vehicle-safety-projects.html


Oh no!!! It would appear MIT is studying Toyota’s lane centering tech. Just a bunch more “fan boys” no doubt.

Matt you need to get over to Cambridge and educate them on this. They need to hear your lecture on how this tech is a “bar trick” with “no point to it”.

 

The "point" to tech like this is to make the cars idiot resistant so they can continue to sell vehicles to idiots. Which is the majority of the population.
Humans aren't evolving as fast as technology. Most people aren't intelligent or coordinated enough to operate large machinery. If they only sold vehicles to people who had any business operating one, they wouldn't sell enough vehicles to justify even building them.

 

Just checked. Yep...my keep was on.....trace was off.

 

Do you have a 10spd with adaptive?

 

Yep...

 

Can’t say you’re completely wrong, but hopefully lower percentage of Toyota buyers.

At least relative to say Ford who rolls out some gimmick every 6 months. Have you seen the swing out tailgate? Oh so impressive!
Maybe for their next trick they can build an engine and that will last 100,000 mi……oh wait never mind I want a tailgate with 10 extra poorly made parts to break.

 

We just got back from a 2000 mile road trip and I used the lane centering a good bit with very mixed results. Most of the time it just hunted too much and my girlfriend repeatedly had to ask me why we were zigging and zagging so much. No, dear, I did not have whiskey for breakfast. Then on one stretch of road that was flat and well-marked it worked much better. But that was the exception. I had honestly expected this tech to be much better, as it is reported to be in Hondas and such.