Safety for Everyone’ is Honda’s goal. In pursuit of advancing safety for everyone sharing the road, Honda uses technology that allows a limited degree of autonomous driving. Honda’s  unique advanced driver assistance system is the Honda Sensing® package.

What is Honda Sensing®?

The Honda Sensing® package was first introduced with the 2015 Honda CR-V Touring model and has been included ever since with every new Honda model.

The safety technologies that are part of the Honda Sensing® suite are designed to enhance driver awareness to help prevent potential collisions. Honda Sensing® is a collection of advanced safety technologies that are standard or are available as optional equipment on Honda models. This ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) technology uses a single forward-facing camera which provides all the data needed for the ADAS to operate.

In previous years, these technologies used a camera or radar. However, radar is being phased out and replaced with a new single-camera system with a faster processor. The single camera provides “a wider field of detection” than the previous system. The system is also capable of more quickly and accurately identifying pedestrians, bicyclists and other vehicles, along with road lines and road signs as a result of software advances and a new, more powerful processor.

While the driver must remain alert and is required to actively supervise the technology at all times, this system allows Level 2 semi-autonomous driving. Level 2 driver support provides alerts and even can control primary driving.

What’s included in Honda Sensing®?

Every vehicle with Honda Sensing® includes these six features:

1. Collision Mitigation Braking (CMBS)
2. Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
3. Lane Keeping Assistance System (LKAS)
4. Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
5. Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM)
6. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

Each feature has specific goals to protect the Honda vehicle and its occupants. Let’s look at them in detail now.

1. Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™)

Driving any Honda with the Collision Mitigation Braking System means a reduced likelihood of frontal impact during a collision. This automatic emergency braking feature is triggered when the sensor detects a possible collision with an obstacle directly in front of the vehicle.

The Collision Mitigation Braking System uses a camera to detect significant speed variation between objects in time to reduce speed or reduce damage from a collision. If the driver’s reaction to these warnings is insufficient, the system will automatically apply the brakes to either avoid a collision or, if unavoidable, reduce vehicle speed at the time of impact to mitigate damage and/or injury to vehicle occupants.

2. Forward Collision Warning (FCW) – Integrated with CMBS

The Honda Forward Collision Warning System is integrated with the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS). Using a small monocular camera, mounted at the top of the windshield, it determines if the vehicle is at risk of a collision with another vehicle or pedestrian the system warns the driver.

When vehicles and pedestrians ahead are detected, the sensors determine whether a collision is imminent. If so, the system will sound an audible alert, trigger a visual warning on the instrument panel and Head-Up Display (if equipped), and produce seat belt vibrations to alert the driver to hit the brakes. If the driver does not brake soon enough, the CMBS system automatically applies emergency braking and firmly retracts the seatbelt to lessen impact and injury.

3. Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)

Honda’s Lane Keep Assist System is designed to keep you from drifting out of your lane when traveling between 45-90 mph on well-marked lanes with gentle curves. This feature uses a camera to sense lane lines when possible and keeps the vehicle centered by automatically adjusting steering to keep your vehicle within its lane.

This feature must be turned on each time the vehicle is started. When activated, the instrument cluster glows green.

4. Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

This sensor system warns a driver when the vehicle has drifted over a lane marking without using the turn signal. The windshield mounted camera identifies common safety markers, like lane dividers and cats-eye markers, and sends a video feed from a camera mounted to the passenger-side mirror to the infotainment display whenever the driver activates the right turn signal. However, if the driver leaves the lane without using the turn signal, will issue an audible alert.

The technology works in conjunction with the Road Departure Mitigation to keep drivers on track. If the vehicle drifts out of its lane without signaling, the vehicle will issue an audiovisual Lane Departure Warning (LDW), prompting the driver to steer back into the lane. If the driver does not react quickly enough, the Road Departure Mitigation System engages the steering to automatically adjust to get the vehicle back in the lane.

Opinions on this feature are mixed at MotorTrend; some feel it’s helpful while others find it distracting. Drivers can overcome this automated input when desirable, such as when passing a cyclist on a narrow road, by switching off the feature. See later section on how to turn off features.

5. Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) – Integrated with Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

The Road Departure Mitigation system works in conjunction with the Lane Departure Warning sensors to monitor road markings and gently correct course, via steering and braking adjustments, in the event of the vehicle leaving the road.

RDM (Road Departure Mitigation) stays on or off depending on the setting selected. This system can be customized in the vehicle settings, with the following choices:

• Normal Model
• Wide Mode
• Narrow Mode
• Warn Only Mode

If the driver fails to correct the vehicle’s path, the Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM) can adjust the steering and brakes to re-center the vehicle.

6. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow (LSF)

The Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) allows the driver to set an intended speed and following distance.  The system automatically maintains a vehicle’s speed like a regular cruise control system, but when there is traffic in front of the vehicle, it will adjust to the speed of traffic, maintaining a preset following distance behind the vehicle in front by braking and accelerating as necessary.

Using radar or wide-view camera technology to detect the speed and distance of vehicles in front, Adaptive Cruise Control will automatically decelerate and accelerate the vehicle to maintain a safe following distance.

For example, if the vehicle is traveling at the selected speed and senses a vehicle ahead, it will apply brake pressure to maintain that following distance. When the car ahead speeds up or changes lanes, the ACC system applies throttle to ease the vehicle up to speed.

Low-Speed Follow (LSF)

Models with the latest Honda Sensing technology also offer low-speed following and stop-and-go capability for heavy traffic situations. This feature extends the automatic following capability of ACC to stop-and-go traffic situations (down to 0 mph).

Honda’s Adaptive Cruise Control is unique in that it also offers low-speed follow designed for use in traffic around town, as well as on clear open roads, This gives the vehicle stop-and-go capability in heavy traffic.

While driving at speeds of between 0-20 mph, the system gives audible and visual warnings to the driver when the system recognizes a high risk of collision. The system uses a unit fitted to the windshield behind the rearview mirror to detect potential collisions and to mitigate the level of damage in an unavoidable crash. If the driver does not take action to slow down, the system will automatically slow down the vehicle to a complete stop, then accelerate back up to the speed preset, when the traffic conditions allow.

This system reduces false starts and helps reduce accidents in situations where the driver accidentally steps on the accelerator instead of the brake.

Other Optional ADAS features available on Hondas

Some newer Honda models also include

• Traffic Jam Assist
• Traffic Sign Recognition
• Driver attention monitor

Traffic Jam Assist (TJA)* — Works in conjunction with the Lane Keeping Assist System, providing light steering assist all the way to a complete stop if needed. Operating at speeds below 45 mph, TJA helps the driver maintain lane position when traveling at slower speeds, such as might be experienced in congested traffic conditions.

Using a front wide camera mounted to the upper portion of the windshield, this system combined with Lane Keep Assist (must be activated) detects and monitors traffic lane lines in heavy traffic. Based on inputs from the camera, the system can apply steering torques to keep the vehicle in the center of the detected lane.

*Traffic Jam Assist only available on the 2022 Honda Civic Hatch.

Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) — Some Honda models also include Traffic Sign Recognition as part of their Honda Sensing suite. This feature detects and reads road signs, then relays the information to the driver.

This technology uses a camera that can read speed limit and stop signs, and projects that information within the instrumentation or, for cars that are so-equipped, onto the head-up display. The refreshed 2021 Odyssey minivan is an example of a Honda model including this technology.

Driver Attention Monitor —Semi-self-driving technology is becoming increasingly common that has prompted safety experts to turn attention to the need for adequate driver monitoring.

The Driver Attention Monitor system offers four gradual visual, audible and tactile alerts to get the driver’s attention using electronic and steering inputs to calculate driver awareness. Camera-based monitor systems are the best technology currently available. Cameras do not necessarily capture a video image but could be using infrared to monitor a driver’s eye movements or facial features.

The system continually monitors and assesses driver behavior behind the wheel to help determine if the driver is becoming inattentive. It relies on inputs from the electric power steering to determine how often, and how hard, the driver is moving the steering wheel.

Should the monitor determine the driver is tired or inattentive, it issues a warning on the gauge panel for the driver to take a break by displaying a coffee cup icon and a four-bar graph on the digital screen on the instrument panel. The white bars disappear as the driver’s attention drops; when two bars are lit, the system suggests that the driver take a break. When just one bar remains, a buzzer sounds and the steering wheel vibrates. This monitor system can be turned on or off.

How To Turn Off Honda Sensing®

There may be times when a driver doesn’t want or need certain Honda Sensing® features. It’s very easy to deactivate any of the features. Simply push the MAIN button on the steering wheel until the indicators in the instrument cluster are gone

To turn back on, or to configure the Honda Sensing® settings on the optional central touchscreen:

1. Tap “Settings”
2. Tap “Vehicle Settings”
3. Tap “Drive Assist Setup”

This allows you to change distance warnings for CMBS™, RDM warnings, and more.

Can Honda Sensing® Be Added by a Dealer?

The good news is that there are many Honda Sensing® models currently available.

For Hondas that don’t include The Honda Sensing® package as a standard feature, it can only be installed as an option when the vehicle is assembled in the factory. The detailed integration of the Honda Sensing® systems includes installing radar, steering wheel controls, and a wide array of sensors. If a dealership were to add Honda Sensing®, the vehicle would essentially have to be dismantled and rebuilt. Therefore, for vehicles already built, unfortunately, the answer is no.

Which Honda Models Have Honda Sensing®?

Honda Sensing® is available or standard on the following models:

• 2020 – 2022 Honda Accord
• 2020 – 2022 Honda Civic
• 2020 – 2022 Honda CR-V
• 2020 Honda Fit
• 2020 – 2022 Honda HR-V
• 2020 – 2022 Honda Insight
• 2020 – 2022 Honda Odyssey
• 2020 – 2022 Honda Passport
• 2020 – 2022 Honda Pilot
• 2020 – 2022 Honda Ridgeline