RCTA in Toyota Camry, what does it mean? What improvement does it bring, and are there disadvantages?
You would learn all that here, so stop being bothered.
Toyota Camry comes with unbelievable advancement. Among the various safety characteristics of the Toyota Camry is the RCTA. However, do not be amazed when you see modern technology in a Toyota Camry. This is to provide the users with more value.
This article will discuss the functions of the RCTA and also look at other safety features that the Toyota Camry has.
What Does The RCTA Mean On a Toyota Camry?
The full meaning of RCTA is “Rear Cross Traffic Alert .” It is among the numerous safety characteristics available in a Toyota Camry. Its sensor monitors the surrounding you’re in as you drive and pack your car. Its function is similar to that of Blind Spot Monitoring sensors (BSM).
Both RCTA and BSM make use of radar infrastructures to identify cars coming by the side of your car. Your RCTA automatically activates when your vehicle is reversed, and the systems are designed to warn the drivers of any rear cross-traffics.
RCTA in Toyota Camry consists of two short-range radar sensors; both sensors monitor the vehicle’s surroundings at 120-degree angles.
The function of the RCTA system comes into play when the vehicle is reversing and traveling at 5mph and also detects any vehicle approaching around 5 to 18mph.
RCTA is primarily designed to prevent collision measures; the monitoring system, in turn, notifies the drivers when any car is approaching the blind spot. If RCTA detects any other vehicle, it will trigger warning tones, then the indicator light on your wing mirror will flash.
How Does RCTA Work?
It detects cars driving toward the side of your Toyota Camry, then automatically activates when your vehicle is reversing. Also, it increases security to unusually high levels. In Toyota vehicles, the radar sensor used in RCTA technology differs, and so does the range cover.
The light symbol is one unique characteristic of RCTA technology. When the RCTA goes off on your dashboard, it is an indication that it’s unsafe for the driver to move from the parking spot as it signals another car coming closer to your rear.
Regardless of these advantages, drivers should know that sometimes it can also malfunction, particularly if your RCTA’s light is switched on and an unusual sound is heard coming out of the vehicle.
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Where Is The RCTA Sensor Located?
The RCTA sensors of the Toyota Camry are located in your rear, by the bumper side of your vehicle. Its function is automatic as a safety/ security feature. It doesn’t wait for the driver to turn it on.
Immediately the situation programmed within it is present, it starts working automatically to identify or detect the closest cross-rear traffic, then the vehicle reverses.
Except the vehicle is moving at 5mph or lower, it doesn’t function at high speed. However, it doesn’t stop detecting a vehicle moving at high speeds of 18mph.
How To Turn On RCTA On Toyota Camry
Your RCTA and BSM would activate automatically for your safety and start to use the sensor for detecting rear-cross-traffics as soon as the vehicle turns into reverse. This works when your car is moving at 5mph speed or less, thereby detecting vehicles coming from behind which are moving at 18mph.
Can the RCTA Be Turned Off?
Regardless of the many advantages of this improvement, drivers are still allowed to turn off the rear-cross-traffic alerts of their Toyota Camry. By doing this, the features will be disenabled completely but can be reset from your setting where your Blind Spot is located.
When you do this, your Blind Spot might still be active, but this doesn’t apply to every vehicle since both are joined to your sensor and could switch off.
What Safety Features Are Included in a Toyota Camry?
RCTA Toyota Camry
The function of the RCTA is to protect your vehicle from bumping into or smashing with another car when you’re reversing. Though, it isn’t the only feature in Toyota Camry designed for safety.
It is likely that the sensor in different types of Toyota models varies. Below is a breakdown of the available ones in the 2019 model of Toyota Camry with the various ways they work for the safety of the drivers and passersby.
Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)
When you notice a car approaching in either of the Blind Spots of your Camry, your BSM activates light automatically on your side mirror, with a warning sound.
Toyota Star Safety System
This is a standardized feature in the 2019 model of the Toyota Camry. This Star Safety System (SSS protects drivers and vehicles from accidents). Below are their functions:
- Brake assistance
- Cars stability control
- Distributing electronic brake-force
- Smart stop tech.
- Anti-brake lock
- Traction control
Toyota Safety Sense – P (TSS-P)
TSS-P is an improved safety system in the Toyota Camry. Below are the safety measures of the TSS-P:
- Detecting pedestrians
- Lane alert for departure
- Controlling dynamic cruise
- Assisting steering
- Automatic high beam
In American sedans, only a few have many safety/security features compared to a Toyota Camry, which happens to be among the models that are more popular in the market. RCTA is among the numerous safety measures included in your car.
While shopping for your vehicle, remember that not all Camry models come with standard RCTA and BSM.
The Importance of RCTA
The RCTA is among the safety features in your vehicle that you wouldn’t want to be taken off. The following are the benefits of using RCTA systems:
Blind-spot Monitoring
When you are driving with blind spot detection on, your vision is improved greatly. That’s the function of RCTA. Your Toyota Camry could easily detect when any car enters your blind spot by the sides of the car when you’re using BSM’s radar sensor.
With this, you can drive safely while your mind is at rest. It is important you search for more information about other safety features on your Toyota Camry model.
Reduces the Risk of Collision
This RCTA system greatly helps in reducing the risks of colliding with other vehicles or traffic incidents. Because your BSM detects when a vehicle is approaching your blind spot, then sends a caution sound, so you know there’s a vehicle behind you.
With this, you would know that you have to catch the brake while reversing and begin to back out safely again immediately after your rear traffic is passed. You are vulnerable to more accidental risk without the RCTA because it could be hard to detect when a vehicle is coming behind a car, especially on the road with adjoining traffic.
Works Automatically
As one of their safety measures, the RCTA is installed in every Toyota model, and it is not usually very easy to use. Immediately the car is in reverse motion; it triggers the alert system and automatically starts making use of the BSM radar’s sensor to pick up the rear traffic.
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) works to pick up traffic moving between 8 to 18mph and if the car’s speed is less than 5mph. If you detect the rear traffic by the sides of the car, it will notify you with the flash indicators by the side mirror and a warning sound. It is good when used together with some other safety measures.
Though the RCTA is an amazing feature, it works better when it is used with your blind spot monitor and other safety features that improve the drivers’ experiences on the highway. Driving with BSM and RCTA features improves the driver’s experience greatly.
For example, when you use RCTA together with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), the vehicle not only detects rear traffic but will also catch the brake automatically if it feels that the vehicle could collide with another vehicle.
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Frequently Asked Questions – RCTA Toyota Camry
What does RCTA mean on a Toyota Camry?
When your car is in reverse, the RCTA system, which is installed, activates automatically and starts using the BSM radar sensor to know if rear cross traffics is approaching from any side of the car.
What does the Rcta light mean?
RCTA light assists drivers when they want to back up. It detects any approaching cross traffic and then signals the driver through a warning sound and indicator lights on your outside mirrors at the sides of the approaching car.
How do I turn off Rcta?
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) in almost all Toyota cars can be turned off and on through the car’s Multi-Information Display (MID). Just search your MID’s setting screen and look for the BSM’s setting, then turn it off or on.
What does Rcta mean in a car?
In a vehicle, the RCTA uses similar/same radar sensors to detect cars in your blind spot direction. It also safeguards the driver from an accident when trying to reverse out of his parking spot.
Why does my car say Rcta?
RCTA light assists drivers when they want to back up. It detects any approaching cross traffic and then signals the driver through a warning sound and indicator lights on your outside mirrors at the sides of the approaching car.
Should the Rcta light be on?
If your RCTA light is on and your vehicle makes a warning sound, that means there’s a malfunctioning in your safety features, and it’s not working well. But if this light comes on without making the warning sound, then your RCTA is unavailable at the moment.
Conclusion – RCTA Toyota Camry
RCTA, which stands for “Rear Cross Traffic Alert,” is just one of the number of safety management strategies installed in Toyota Camry cars. It also serves as a damage preventive measure included in Toyota cars.
When the vehicle is traveling up to a speed of 5mph, the RCTA system applies radar to detect any vehicle coming from behind. At the end of this article, it is hoped that you gain a good knowledge of the many different safety features available in your Toyota Camry.