2054-1. Before driving
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Driving
RX350/RX350L_U
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped engine running. This prevents
the vehicle from creeping.
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accelerator ped-
als to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake pedal will
result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to difficulty in operat-
ing the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving po sture even when moving the vehicle only
slightly. This allows you to depress th e brake and accelerator pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake pedal using your left foot may delay re sponse in an emergency, resulting in an accident.
●Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. These hot parts may
cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.
●During normal driving, do not turn off the engine. Turning the engine off while driving
will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems
will be lost. This will make it more difficult to steer and brake, so you should pull over
and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
However, in the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop the
vehicle in the normal way: P. 645
●Use engine braking (downshift) to maintain a safe speed when driving down a steep
hill.
Using the brakes continuously may cause th e brakes to overheat and lose effective-
ness. ( P. 240)
●Do not adjust the positions of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or outside rear
view mirrors while driving.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control.
●Always check that all passengers’ arms, heads or other parts of their body are not
outside the vehicle.
●AWD models: Do not drive the vehicle off-road.
This is not an AWD vehicle designed for of f-road driving. Proceed with all due cau-
tion if it becomes unavoidable to drive off-road.
●Do not drive across a river or through other bodies of water.
This may cause electric/elect ronic components to short circuit, damage the engine or
cause other serious damage to the vehicle.
●Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit permits it, do not
drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) unless your vehicle has high-speed capability tires.
Driving over 85 mph (140 km/h ) may result in tire failure, loss of control and possible
injury. Be sure to consult a tire dealer to determine whether the tires on your vehicle
are high-speed capability tires or no t before driving at such speeds.
2254-1. Before driving
4
Driving
RX350/RX350L_U
■Matching trailer ball height to trailer coupler height
■Before towing
Check that the following conditions are met:
●Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated. ( P. 704)
●Trailer tires are inflated according to the trailer manufacturer’s recommendation.
●All trailer lights work as required by law.
●All lights work each time you connect them.
●The trailer ball is set at the proper height for the coupler on the trailer.
●The trailer is level when it is hitched.
Do not drive if the trailer is not level, and check for improper to ngue weight, overload-
ing, worn suspension, or other possible causes.
●The trailer cargo is securely loaded.
●The rear view mirrors conform to all applicable federal, state/provincial or local regula-
tions. If they do not, install rear view mirrors appropriate for towing purposes.
■AVS (adaptive variable suspension system) (if equipped)
The suspension can be switched fo r improvement in driveability. (P. 379)
No matter which class of tow hitch
applies, for a more safe trailer hookup,
the trailer ball setup
must be the proper
height for the coupler on the trailer.
Coupler
Trailer ball
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2784-5. Using the driving support systems
RX350/RX350L_U
WARNING
●Do not subject the camera sensor to a strong impact.
●Do not change the installation position or direction of the camera sensor or remove it.
●Do not disassemble the camera sensor.
●Do not modify any components of the vehi cle around the camera sensor (inside rear
view mirror, et c.) or ceiling.
●Do not attach any accessories that may obstruct the camera sensor to the hood, front
grille or front bumper. Contact your Lexus dealer for details.
●If a surfboard or other long object is to be mounted on the roof, make sure that it will
not obstruct the camera sensor.
●Do not modify the head lights or other lights.
2894-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
RX350/RX350L_U• After the engine has started the vehicle has not been driven for a certain amount of
time
• While making a left/right turn and for a few seconds after making a left/right turn
• While driving on a curve and for a few seconds after driving on a curve
• If your vehicle is skidding
• If the wheels are misaligned
• If a wiper blade is blocking the camera sensor
• The vehicle is wobbling.
• The vehicle is being driven at extremely high speeds.
• When driving on a hill
• If the radar sensor or ca mera sensor is misaligned
●In some situations such as the following, sufficient braking forc e may not be obtained,
preventing the system from performing properly:
• If the braking functions cannot operate to their full extent, such as when the brake parts are extremely cold, extremely hot, or wet
• If the vehicle is not properly maintained (brakes or tires are excessively worn,
improper tire inflation pressure, etc.)
• When the vehicle is being driven on a gravel road or other slippery surface
●Some pedestrians such as the following may not be detected by the radar sensor and
camera sensor, preventing the system from operating properly:
• Pedestrians shorter than approximately 3.2 ft. (1 m) or taller than approximately 6.5
ft. (2 m)
• Pedestrians wearing oversized clothing (a ra in coat, long skirt, etc.), making their sil-
houette obscure
• Pedestrians who are carrying large baggage, holding an umbrella, etc., hiding part
of their body
• Pedestrians who are bending forward or squatting
• Pedestrians who are pushing a stroller , wheelchair, bicycle or other vehicle
• Groups of pedestrians which are close together
• Pedestrians who are wearing white and look extremely bright
• Pedestrians in the dark, such as at night or while in a tunnel
• Pedestrians whose clothing appears to be nearly the same color or brightness as
their surroundings
• Pedestrians near walls, fences , guardrails, or large objects
• Pedestrians who are on a metal object (manhole cover, steel plate, etc.) on the road
• Pedestrians who are walking fast
• Pedestrians who are changing speed abruptly
• Pedestrians running out from be hind a vehicle or a large object
• Pedestrians who are extremely close to the side of the vehicle (outside rear view mirror, etc.)
• If the front of the vehicle is raised or low-
ered
3144-5. Using the driving support systems
RX350/RX350L_U
Multi-information display
Turning the BSM function/RCTA function on/off. ( P. 315)
The RCTA function is available when the BSM function is on.
Outside rear view mirror indicators
BSM function:
When a vehicle is detected in a blind spot of the outside rear view mirrors or
approaching rapidly from behind into a blin d spot, the outside rear view mirror indi-
cator on the detected side will illuminate. If the turn signal lever is operated toward
the detected side, the outside rear view mirror indicator flashes.
RCTA function:
When a vehicle approaching from the right or left at the rear of the vehicle is
detected, both outsid e rear view mirror indicators will flash.
“BSM” indicator/“RCTA” indicator
When the BSM function/RCTA function is turned on, the indicator illuminates.
Monitor screen display (RCTA function only) (if equipped)
If a vehicle approaching from the right or left at the rear of the vehicle is detected, the
RCTA icon ( P. 322) for the detected side will be displayed on the monitor screen.
This illustration shows an example of a vehi cle approaching from the left at the rear of
the vehicle.
RCTA buzzer (RCTA function only)
If a vehicle approaching from the right or left at the rear of the vehicle is detected, a
buzzer will sound. The buzzer also sounds for approximately 1 second immediately
after the BSM function is operated to turn the system on.
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3154-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
RX350/RX350L_U
Press “” or “ ” of the meter control switches, select .
Press “ ” or “ ” of the meter control switches, select “BSM”.
Press “ ” or “ ” of the meter control switch es, select “BSM” or “RCTA”.
■Outside rear view mirror indicator visibility
In strong sunlight, the outside rear view mirror indicator may be difficult to see.
■Hearing the RCTA buzzer
The RCTA buzzer may be difficult to hear over loud noises, such as if the audio system
volume is high.
■When there is a malfunction in the Blind Spot Monitor
If a system malfunction is detected due to any of the following, a warning message will be
displayed: ( P. 661)
●A sensor is malfunctioning
●A sensor is dirty or covere d with snow or a sticker
●The outside temperature is extremely high or low
●Sensor voltage is abnormal
●A sensor is misaligned
■Certification for the Blind Spot Monitor
For vehicles sold in the U.S.A.
For vehicles sold in Canada
Turning the BSM function/RCTA function on/off
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3174-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
RX350/RX350L_U
The BSM function uses radar sensors to detect the following vehicles traveling in
adjacent lanes and advises th e driver of the presence of such vehicles via the
indicators on the outside rear view mirrors.
Vehicles that are traveling in areas th at are not visible using the outside rear
view mirrors (the blind spots)
Vehicles that are approaching rapidly from behind in areas that are not visible
using the outside rear view mirrors (the blind spots)
BSM function
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3184-5. Using the driving support systems
RX350/RX350L_U
The areas that vehicles can be detected in are outlined below.
The range of each detection area is: Approximately 1.6 ft. (0.5 m) to 11.5 ft. (3 .5 m) from either side of the vehicle
*
*
: The area between the side of the vehicle and 1.6 ft. (0.5 m) from the side of the vehicle
cannot be detected.
Approximately 3.3 ft. (1 m) forward of the rear bumper
Approximately 9.8 ft. (3 m) from the rear bumper
Approximately 9.8 ft. (3 m) to 197 ft. (60 m) from the rear bumper
*
*
: The greater the difference in speed betwee n your vehicle and the detected vehicle is,
the farther away the vehicle will be detect ed, causing the outside rear view mirror
indicator to illuminate or flash.
BSM function detection areas
WARNING
■Cautions regarding the use of the function
The driver is solely responsible for safe driving. Always drive safely, taking care to
observe your surroundings.
The BSM function is a supplementary function which alerts the driver that a vehicle is in
a blind spot of the outside rear view mirrors or is approaching rapidly from behind into
a blind spot. Do not overly rely on the BSM function. As the function cannot judge if it is
safe to change lanes, over reliance could lead to an accident resulting in death or seri-
ous injury.
As the system may not function correctly under certain conditions, the driver’s own
visual confirmation of safety is necessary.
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