The other day I was driving my 2010 IS250C and entered a road where a large bush was situated right alongside it. When my car had almost cleared the entry, the Lexus Park Assist screen lit up on my Nav screen. This is the first time this has happened in 5 years of owning car. Has this ever happened to anybody else?

 

Yes, it happens every time I exit the drive-through ATM at my bank.

 

What is this function supposed to be for anyways?

 

It's an aid for parallel parking. For cars equipped with this option, there are sensors on the front and back bumpers; it beeps slowly as you approach an object, and beeps faster when you get real close. There is also a graphic display with bars that indicate how far away you are.

The one on the back bumper works very well, but isn't really needed because the car has a backup camera. The one on the front bumper has fewer sensors and doesn't work nearly as well. I'm sure I'd have tapped a few bumpers if I'd relied on it.

 

Oh, so yeah, I've got the parking sensors. But it's a '06 and only displays the rear camera view without any lines or assist help. I never use them; I don't rely any "help" to drive my car! LOL!

 

If you have the park assist sensors on your bumpers but have never seen the system activate, perhaps you have it turned off. It's a menu setting in the panel to the left of your steering wheel, the same one used for TPMS. When it's on, you'll see a green "P" symbol on the dash.

Then again, you may just want to leave it turned off. Between it beeping for wintertime ice and slush buildup on the bumper, beeping as you drive past the poles that keep you from sideswiping the ATM, and other things in the environment, it sometimes seems more of a nuisance than a help.