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1-8. Safety information
Correct driving posture
Drive with a good posture as follows:
Sit upright and well back in
the seat. (P. 103)
Adjust the position of the
seat forward or backward to
ensure the pedals can be
reached and easily
depressed to the extent
required. (P. 103)
Adjust the seatback so that
the controls are easily oper-
able. (P. 103)
Adjust the tilt and telescopic
positions of the steering
wheel downward so the air-
bag is facing your chest.
(P. 130)
Lock the head restraint in
place with the center of the
head restraint closest to the
top of your ears. (P. 117)
Wear the seat belt correctly.
(P. 120)
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157 1-8. Safety information
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Before driving
PRIUS +_OM_OM47821E_(EE)
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.
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158
1-8. Safety information
PRIUS +_OM_OM47821E_(EE)
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 chest of the driver and front pas-
senger from impact with interior components
SRS knee airbag
Can help provide driver protection
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160 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS +_OM_OM47821E_(EE)
SRS airbag system components
Front impact sensors
Front passenger airbag
“PASSENGER AIR BAG”
indicator
SRS warning light
Side impact sensors (front)
Seat belt pretensioners and
force limitersSide airbags
Curtain shield airbags
Side impact sensors (rear)
Driver airbag
Driver’s knee airbag
Airbag sensor assembly
Airbag manual on-off switch
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161 1-8. Safety information
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Before driving
PRIUS +_OM_OM47821E_(EE)The main SRS airbag system components are shown above. The
SRS airbag system is controlled by the airbag sensor assembly. As
the airbags deploy, a chemical reaction in the inflators quickly fills the
airbags with non-toxic gas to help restrain the motion of the occu-
pants.
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.
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 20 - 30 km/h [12 - 18 mph] frontal collision with a fixed wall that
does not move or deform).
However, this threshold velocity will be considerably higher if the vehicle
strikes an object, such as a parked vehicle and sign pole, which can move
or deform on impact, or if the vehicle is involved in an underride collision
(e.g. a collision in which the front of the vehicle “underrides”, or goes
under, the bed of a truck, etc.).
Depending on the type of collision, it is possible that only the seat belt
pretensioners will activate.
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165 1-8. Safety information
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Before driving
PRIUS +_OM_OM47821E_(EE)
CAUTION
SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the SRS airbags.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
The driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts
properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be used with the seat belts.
The SRS driver airbag deploys with considerable force, and can cause
death or serious injury especially if the driver is very close to the airbag.
Since the risk zone for the driver’s airbag is the first 50 - 75 mm (2 - 3 in.)
of inflation, placing yourself 250 mm (10 in.) from your driver airbag pro-
vides you with a clear margin of safety. This distance is measured from the
center of the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you sit less than 250
mm (10 in.) away now, you can change your driving position in several
ways:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat.
Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 250 mm
(10 in.) distance, even with the driver seat all the way forward, simply
by reclining the back of the seat somewhat. If reclining the back of your
seat makes it hard to see the road, raise yourself by using a firm, non-
slippery cushion, or raise the seat if your vehicle has that feature.
• If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downward. This points the air-
bag toward your chest instead of your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended above, while still maintaining
control of the foot pedals, steering wheel, and your view of the instrument
panel controls.
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166 1-8. Safety information
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CAUTION
SRS airbag precautions
The SRS front passenger airbag also deploys with considerable force, and
can cause death or serious injury especially if the front passenger is very
close to the airbag. The front passenger seat should be as far from the air-
bag as possible with the seatback adjusted, so the front passenger sits
upright.
Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and children can be killed or
seriously injured by a deploying airbag. An infant or child who is too small
to use a seat belt should be properly secured using a child restraint sys-
tem. Toyota strongly recommends that all infants and children be placed in
the rear seats of the vehicle and properly restrained. The rear seats are
safer for infants and children than the front passenger seat. (P. 173)
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174 1-8. Safety information
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Types of child restraints
Child restraint systems are classified into the following 5 groups
according to the regulation “ECE No.44”.
Group 0: Up to 10 kg (22 lb.) (0 - 9 months)
Group 0
+: Up to 13 kg (28 lb.) (0 - 2 years)
Group I: 9 to 18 kg (20 to 39 lb.) (9 months - 4 years)
Group II: 15 to 25 kg (34 to 55 lb.) (4 years - 7 years)
Group III: 22 to 36 kg (49 to 79 lb.) (6 years - 12 years)
In this owner’s manual, the following popular 3 types of child restraint
systems that can be secured with the seat belts are explained.