Dynamic radar cruise control - applying brakes?

I have a 2018 Camry and a '19 DCLB both with DRCC and I've always wondered if, when approaching a car in front of me that is going slower, the vehicle is actually applying the brakes and illuminating the brake lights. Anyone know?

I do like most things about this system but I don't like the thought that my vehicle is often flashing brake lights when unnecessary, making me look like a stooge on the highway. Some day I'll have someone follow me while we talk on cell phones so I know what my vehicle is doing but until then I thought I'd throw the question out there.

 

Owner's manual, page 261:

"Example of deceleration cruising and follow-up cruising
When a preceding vehicle driving slower than the set speed
appears
When a vehicle is detected running ahead of you, the system automatically
decelerates your vehicle. When a greater reduction in vehicle speed is
necessary, the system applies the brakes (the stop lights will come on at
this time). The system will respond to changes in the speed of the vehicle
ahead in order to maintain the vehicle-to-vehicle distance set by the driver.
Approach warning warns you when the system cannot decelerate sufficiently
to prevent your vehicle from closing in on the vehicle ahead."

 

Unbelievable, how lazy people can be... You get a manual with your truck read it, or google it.

 

The manual will tell me whether my truck is applying the brakes in every given situation? Wow. That's a great manual. I'm gonna get off my lazy ass and read it. It must be pretty thick, though, like War and Peace.

My concern is that the system could be activating brake lights when not "necessary." That's not something a manual can define. And certainly something that could be hazardous to other drivers who might react to my unnecessary brake lights.

 

Let me get this right. Your concern is not knowing if the truck is merely decelerating or braking (brake light activated)? You can provide the rest of us with the instructions to the first ever selfie stick mounted camera brake detect light mod.

 

Exactly. I would like to know when my vehicle is braking versus just letting off the accelerator. If it's braking far more often than I think is necessary I would decrease my use of that feature. Not much irritates me more in the context of driving than someone on the open road applying their brakes and causing alarm to everyone else when it's not necessary.

Your half-joking reference to a brake light detect mod isn't too far fetched.

 

Go for it. My experience with dynamic radar is I can feel when the truck is letting off the gas vs actually braking. I frequently use it to draft off semis at a respectable distance. But, I suspect you have an OCD personality and need to know for sure.

 

70's Caddys had it. And turn indicators.

If you really must know, its easy to do.

 

I have a feeling that my notions are not 100% accurate when using dynamic cruise. Yes, knowing whether my brakes are applied at any given moment is important to me.

 

Brake lights are there to warn others that you are braking. If the system were to brake yet not illuminate the brake lights that would cause others to not have the warning and possibly crash.

Why are you so concerned about the lights coming on? If this is such a big deal then don’t follow so closely or drive faster than traffic around you. Your driving habits can completely rectify this issue.

 

You can see if a tap into the brake light system with an LED light on your dash might work.
Here are the diagrams another generous TW member posted:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/posts/17148795

Be interesting what you come up with.

 

Obviously, I am not looking for a way to brake without brake lights illuminating.

My concern with the system is that at times it feels as if the vehicle is accelerating up to my desired set speed while also approaching a vehicle directly in front of me, and then, instead of simply letting off the gas to maintain the preset distance, it unnecessarily puts on the brakes instead. Unnecessary application of brakes on a freeway is a hazard and I'm just trying to wrap my head around what my vehicle is doing without my input. That's all. No need for everyone to get their panties in a bunch. I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering the same thing.

 

My 84 caddy had it. Fiber optics ran from the backside of each bulb to the fender farings on the front, and above the back window for the tails. (It could be seen through the rear view mirror.) Easiest burnt bulb indicator ever.

Just haul a refrigerator box in the bed with a fisheye mirror, you'll have a clear view of the 3rd light, if you're that curious.

I can feel mine, it just eases off the throttle if it comes up on a vehicle, and it jumps on the brakes if a slow vehicle enters my lane. If it happens often, it's a general clue that traffic is too heavy for cruise control....

 

My wife’s Civic has ACC. I quite like it but it is a computer based solution so you have to understand what the computer is doing. The computer doesn’t have “eyes” like a human so it uses sensors to determine to distance to the vehicle ahead as well as determining the closing rate to the vehicle ahead. When you set the distance it constantly compares the set distance to any objects ahead as well as your closing rate to those objects and decides do I continue at the set speed or is there a condition that requires speed adjustment to alter the distance or the closing rate. It then adjusts and will vary the intensity of that adjustment due to the information from the sensors.

In my wife’s car I don’t use ACC in heavy traffic. As vehicles enter the highway from on ramps the distance is often less than set and therefore will brake even though there is lots of room for them to merge. It is annoying but it is doing exactly what I have instructed the system to do. It is maintaining the distance at where I set the system to do so.

In my opinion you are wanting the system to drive like a human and not a computer. So turn it off and let a human control the speed and distance instead of getting upset at a computer that is doing exactly what it has been asked to do. Anyone who has done computer programming or industrial automation knows how complicated writing code to achieve ACC is. The problem is 100% with the OP and not the system. Unrealistic expectations don’t mean the system is faulty.

 

I repeat: "I'm just trying to wrap my head around what my vehicle is doing without my input. That's all. No need for everyone to get their panties in a bunch. I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering the same thing."

Who uses cruise control in heavy traffic? Please.

I'm not saying the system is faulty or has a "problem." I'm simply trying to determine its capabilities and shortcomings and would certainly appreciate knowing whether or not my vehicle is applying the brakes by itself.

We can get back to talking about wheels and tires, lifts, LED light bars, vibrations, leaks, and all the other interesting topics now. You know, the important stuff.

 

You keep talking capabilities and shortcomings.

It is capable of maintaining a set distance.
It’s shortcoming is it isn’t a human and can only do what it is asked to.

 

I consider not telling a driver when their brakes are applied to be a shortcoming. I mean, how simple would that be? The vehicle tells me when the cruise is on, what speed it's set at, the distance setting that has been selected, gives me my radio status, air conditioning status, gear selection, outside temp, door status, e-brake status, etc. Why not tell me when my brakes are on?

 

Have you contacted Toyota coroporate? It seems like they are the best people to explain why they didn’t add an indicator. After all how easy could it be?