2010 TOYOTA PRIUS light

140 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
Installing child restraints using a seat belt (child restraint lock
function belt)
■ Rear facing Infant seat/convertible seat
Place the child restraint system
on the rear seat facing the rear
of the vehicle.
Run the seat belt through the
child restraint system and insert
the plate into the buckle. Make
sure that the belt is not twisted.
Fully extend the shoulder belt
and then allow it to retract
slightly in order to activate the
ALR lock mode.
Lock mode allows the seat belt to
retract only.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

142 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.Fully extend the shoulder strap
and then allow it to retract
slightly into the ALR lock mode.
Lock mode allows the seat belt to
retract only.
While pushing the child restraint
system into the rear seat, allow
the shoulder belt to retract until
the child restraint system is
securely in place.
After the shoulder belt has
retracted to a point where there is
no slack in the belt, pull the belt to
check that it cannot be extended.
If the child restraint has a top te
ther strap, the top tether strap
should be latched onto the top tether strap anchor. ( P. 144)
■ Booster seat
Place the child restraint system
on the seat facing the front of the
vehicle.
STEP3
STEP4
STEP5
STEP1

147
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
CAUTION
■
When installing a child restraint system
● When a booster seat is installed, always ensure that the shoulder belt is
positioned across the center of the child’s shoulder. The belt should be
kept away from the child’s neck, but not so that it could fall off the child’s
shoulder. Failing to do so may result in death or serious injury in the event
of sudden braking, sudden swerving or an accident.
● Ensure that the belt and tab are securely locked and the seat belt is not
twisted.
● Push and pull the child restraint system from side to side and forward to be
sure it is secure.
● After securing a child restraint system, never adjust the seat.
● Follow all installation instructions provided by the child restraint system
manufacturer.
■ Do not use a seat belt extender
If a seat belt extender is used when installing a child restraint system, the
seat belt will not securely hold the child restraint system, which could cause
death or serious injury to the child or other passengers in the event of sud-
den braking, sudden swerving or an accident.
■ To correctly attach a child r estraint system to the anchors
When using the LATCH anchors, be sure that there are no foreign objects
around the anchors and that the seat belt is not caught behind the child
restraint system. Make sure the child restraint system is securely attached,
or it may cause death or serious injury to the child or other passengers in the
event of a sudden stop, sudden swerve or accident.
● Only put a forward-facing child restraint
system on the front seat when unavoid-
able. When installing a forward-facing
child restraint system on the front pas-
senger seat, move the seat as far back
as possible even if “AIR BAG OFF” indi-
cator light is illuminated. Failing to do
so may result in death or serious injury
if the airbags deploy (inflate).

When driving2
149
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
2-1. Driving proceduresDriving the vehicle............ 150
Power (ignition) switch ..... 162
EV-Drive Mode................. 168
Transmission.................... 171
Turn signal lever .............. 178
Parking brake ................... 179
Horn ................................. 180
2-2. Instrument cluster Gauges and meters ......... 181
Indicators and warning 
lights .............................. 185
Multi-information  display............................ 188 2-3. Operating the lights and
windshield wipers
Headlight switch ............... 206
Fog light switch ................ 209
Windshield wipers 
and washer .................... 210
Rear window wiper  and washer .................... 212
Headlight 
cleaner switch ................ 213
2-4. Using other driving systems Cruise control ................... 214
Dynamic radar 
cruise control ................. 218
Rear view monitor 
system ........................... 231
LKA (Lane-Keeping 
Assist) ............................ 235
Hill-start assist control ...... 243
Driving assist systems ..... 245
Pre-Collision System........ 249
2-5. Driving information Cargo and luggage .......... 255
Vehicle load limits ............ 260
Winter driving tips ............ 261
Trailer towing ................... 266
Dinghy towing .................. 267

152 2-1. Driving procedures
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
■Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability
of the correct fuel. ( P. 558)
■ For efficient use
● Put the shift lever into “D” when driving. 
In the “N” position, the gasoline engine operates but electricity cannot be
generated. 
The hybrid battery (traction battery) will be discharged requiring unnec-
essary engine power to recharge.
● Drive your vehicle smoothly.
Avoid abrupt acceleration and deceleration. Gradual acceleration and
deceleration will make more effective use of the traction motor without
having to use gasoline engine power.
● Avoid repeated acceleration. 
Repeated acceleration consumes hybrid battery (traction battery) power,
resulting in poor acceleration. Battery power can be restored by driving
with the accelerator pedal slightly released.
● Push the “P” position switch when parking.
In the “N” position, the hybrid battery (traction battery) does not recharge. 
Leaving the shift lever in the “N” position for an extended period of the
time may discharge the hybrid battery. The vehicle cannot run if the
hybrid battery is discharged.

153
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
■
Environmentally friendly driving
Environmentally friendly driving can be ac hieved by driving with the Hybrid
System Indicator. ( P. 192)
■ Brake actuator
The brake actuator uses brake fluid pressurized by the pump to power-assist
the brakes. If the brake actuator fails during driving, the brake system warn-
ing light comes on and the buzzer sounds continuously. In this case, the
brakes may not work properly. If they do not work well, depress the brake
pedal firmly. If the brake system warning light comes on, immediately stop
your vehicle and contact your Toyota dealer.
In the following conditions, you may hear a sound in the engine compart-
ment. This is not a malfunction.
● The driver’s door is opened with the hybrid system turned off.
● The brake pedal is depressed with the hybrid system turned off.
● After the hybrid system is turned on.
● The brake pedal is depressed repeatedly with the hybrid system turned
on.
● After the hybrid system is turned off.
The brake pedal may be hard to depress or the brake pedal stroke may be
short before turning the hybrid system on. This is not a malfunction.
■ When braking the vehicle
When applying brakes, you may hear a sound coming from the motor gener-
ator.
However, this does not indicate any trouble.

154 2-1. Driving procedures
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
CAUTION
■When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the hybrid sys-
tem operating. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.
■ When driving the vehicle
● Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accel-
erator pedals 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
that could result in death or serious injury.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a diffi- culty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the vehicle only slightly, allowing you to depress the brake and accelerator
pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, result-
ing in an accident.
● The driver should pay attention to pedestrians when the vehicle is pow-
ered only by the electric motor (traction motor). Because there is no hybrid
system sounds, the pedestrians may misjudge the vehicle’s movement.
● Do not drive the vehicle over or st op the vehicle near flammable materials. 
The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. this may
cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.

156 2-1. Driving procedures
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
CAUTION
●When stopped on an inclined surface, use the brake pedal and parking
brake to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward or forward and causing
an accident.
● Do not adjust the position 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 that can cause accidents
that may result in death or serious injury.
● Always check that all passengers’ arms, heads or other parts of their bod-
ies are not outside the vehicle, as this may result in death or serious injury.
● Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit per-
mits 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 not before driving at such speeds.
■ When driving on slippery road surfaces
● Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and
reduce your ability to control the vehicle, resulting in an accident.
● Sudden changes in engine speed, such as engine braking caused by up-
shifting or down-shifting, may cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an
accident.
● After driving through a puddle, lightly depress the brake pedal to make
sure that the brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent
the brakes from functioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet
and not functioning properly, steering control may be affected, resulting in
an accident.
■ When shifting the shift lever
Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed. 
This may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may
cause an accident and result in death or serious injury.