2012 TOYOTA PRIUS Owners Manual

137
1
1-7. Theft deterrent system
Before driving
Theft prevention labels (for the U.S.A.)
These labels are attached to
the vehicle to reduce vehicle
theft by facilitating the tracing
and recovery of parts from sto-
len vehicles. Do not remove
under penalty of law.

138
1-8. Safety information
Correct driving posture
Drive with a good posture as follows:
Sit upright and well back in
the seat. (P. 9 9 )
Adjust the position of the
seat forward or backward to
ensure the pedals can be
reached and easily
depressed to the extent
required. ( P. 99)
Adjust the seatback so that
the controls are easily oper-
able. ( P. 99)
Adjust the tilt and telescopic
positions of the steering
wheel downward so the air-
bag is facing your chest.
(  P. 1 1 7 )
Lock the head restraint in
place with the center of the
head restraint closest to the
top of your ears. ( P. 105)
Wear the seat belt correctly.
(  P. 109)

139
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
CAUTION
■
While driving
●Do not adjust the position of the driver’s seat.
Doing so could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
● Do not place a cushion between the driver or passenger and the seatback.
A cushion may prevent correct posture from being achieved, and reduce
the effectiveness of the seat belt and head restraint, increasing the risk of
death or serious injury to the driver or passenger.
● Do not place anything under the front seats.
Objects placed under the front seats may become jammed in the seat
tracks and stop the seat from locking in place. This may lead to an acci-
dent, resulting in death or serious injury. The adjustment mechanism may
also be damaged.
■ Adjusting the seat position
●Take care when adjusting the seat position to ensure that other passen-
gers are not injured by the moving seat.
● Do not put your hands under the seat or near the moving parts to avoid
injury.
Fingers or hands may become jammed in the seat mechanism.

140
1-8. Safety information
SRS airbags
The SRS airbags inflate when the vehicle is subjected to certain
types of severe impacts that may cause significant injury to the
occupants. They work together with the seat belts to help reduce the
risk of death or serious injury.
SRS front airbags
SRS driver airbag/front passenger airbag
Can help protect the head and ches t of the driver and front pas-
senger from impact with interior components
SRS knee airbag
Can help provide driver protection

141
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
SRS side and curtain shield airbags
SRS side airbags
Can help protect the torso of the front seat occupants
SRS curtain shield airbags
Can help protect primarily the head of occupants in the outer
seats

142 1-8. Safety information
SRS airbag system componentsFront passenger airbag
“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG
OFF” indicator lights
Side airbags
Curtain shield airbags
Front passenger occupant
classification system (ECU
and sensors)
Side impact sensors (rear)
SRS warning light
Driver airbag Side impact sensors (front)
Seat belt pretensioners and
force limiters
Driver’s seat belt buckle
switch
Driver’s seat position sensor
Driver’s knee airbag
Front passenger’s seat belt
buckle switch
Front impact sensors
Airbag sensor assembly

143
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
Your vehicle is equipped with
ADVANCED AIRBAGS designed based
on the US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The airbag
sensor assembly (ECU) controls ai rbag deployment based on infor-
mation obtained from the sensors etc. shown in the system compo-
nents diagram above. This inform ation includes crash severity and
occupant information. As the air bags deploy, a chemical reaction in
the inflators quickly fills the airbags with nontoxic gas to help restrain
the motion of the occupants.
■ If the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)
●Bruising and slight abrasions may result from contact with a deploying
(inflating) SRS airbag.
● A loud noise and white powder will be emitted.
● Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover and inflator)
as well as the front seats, parts of the front and rear pillars, and roof side
rails, may be hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be hot.
● The windshield may crack.
● For Safety Connect subscribers, if the SRS airbags deploy or in the event
of a severe rear-end collision, the system is designed to send an emer-
gency call to the response center, notifying them of the vehicle’s location
(without needing to push the “SOS” button) and an agent will attempt to
speak with the occupants to ascertain the level of emergency and assis-
tance required. If the occupants are unable to communicate, the agent
automatically treats the call as an emergency and helps to dispatch the
necessary emergency services. ( P. 388)

144 1-8. Safety information
■SRS airbag deployment conditions (SRS front airbags)
●The SRS front airbags will deploy in the event of an impact that exceeds
the set threshold level (the level of force corresponding to an approxi-
mately 12 - 18 mph [20 - 30 km/h] frontal collision with a fixed wall that
does not move or deform).
However, this threshold velocity will be considerably higher in the following
situations:
• If the vehicle strikes an object, such as a parked vehicle or sign pole,
which can move or deform on impact
• If the vehicle is involved in an underride collision such as a collision in which the front of the vehicle “underrides”, or goes under, the bed of a
truck
● Depending on the type of collision, it is possible that only the seat belt
pretensioners will activate.
● The SRS front airbags for the front passenger will not activate if there is
no passenger sitting in the front passenger seat. However, the SRS front
airbags for the front passenger may deploy if luggage is put in the seat,
even if the seat is unoccupied. ( P. 154)
■ SRS airbag deployment conditions (S RS side and curtain shield air-
bags)
The SRS side and curtain shield airbags will deploy in the event of an impact
that exceeds the set threshold level (the level of force corresponding to the
impact force produced by an approximately 3300 lb. [1500 kg] vehicle collid-
ing with the vehicle cabin from a direction perpendicular to the vehicle orien-
tation at an approximate speed of 12 - 18 mph [20 - 30 km/h]).