Here's How Lexus Traffic Jam Assist Works

Making Commutes Bearable

Toyota and Lexus have long been near the front of the pack in terms of driver-assist and safety technology, giving us more and more useful features with each passing model year. One of the more interesting is Traffic Jam Assist, which is designed to make those rush hour commutes a bit more bearable. In this video from AutoJeff Reviews, we get a good look at precisely how this feature works on a 2023 RX 500h.

Real World Use

In light traffic, Traffic Jam Assist, well, assists with things like accelerating and braking, and can also stop the vehicle completely if needed to prevent a collision. The feature keeps a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, as we can see in this video with Traffic Jam Assist activated and in use.

Mitigating Risk

The idea behind this particular feature - which is a Level 2 advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) - is to combine existing features like adaptive cruise control and lane-centering into one package, which mitigates some of the fatigue suffered when driving in stop-and-go traffic while also making it a bit safer, to boot.

Taking Control

In that regard, Traffic Jam Assist essentially acts like a low-speed version of adaptive cruise control, using things like cameras and sensors to detect the presence of a vehicle ahead, at which point it adjusts the vehicle's speed accordingly. The feature is designed to function at speeds under 25 mph, where it assumes control of acceleration and braking without any sort of driver intervention.

Keep It Centered

In addition to managing speeds, Traffic Jam Assist is also able to keep a vehicle centered in its lane by using cameras to detect road markings, after which it can apply subtle steering input to keep the vehicle in its place and not drifting one way or the other, which can happen when a driver gets fatigued. Of course, manual input from the driver overrides the system, too.

Not Perfect

Of course, like any technology, Traffic Jam Assist isn't perfect, nor is it a fully autonomous feature that can be used without the driver needing to pay attention to what's going on around them. Things like inclement weather, sharp curves, highway interchanges, and long, descending slopes can affect its ability to function properly, so drivers should certainly remain aware and ready to intervene when it's activated.

Availability

Regardless, Traffic Jam Assist is still a very useful feature that many - especially those that sit in heavy traffic on a regular basis - will find appealing. It's currently available in a number of Toyota and Lexus models, including the RX lineup, as well as the RZ 450e, the 2023 Prius, and the 2024 Grand Highlander, along with various other higher-grade trim levels of various offerings.

>>Join the conversation about Lexus Traffic Jam Assist right here at ClubLexus.com.

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