2013 TOYOTA PRIUS Owners Manual

161
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
PRIUS_OM_OM47791U_(U)
CAUTION
■
Front passenger occupant cl assification system precautions
● Do not recline the front passenger seatback so far that it touches a rear
seat. This may cause the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light to be illuminated,
which indicates that the passenger’s airbags will not deploy in the event of
a severe accident. If the seatback touches the rear seat, return the seat-
back to a position where it does not touch the rear seat. Keep the front\
passenger seatback as upright as possible when the vehicle is moving.
Reclining the seatback excessively may lessen the effectiveness of the
seat belt system.
● If an adult sits in the front passenger seat, the “AIR BAG ON” indicator
light is illuminated. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator is illuminated, ask the
passenger to sit up straight, well back in the seat, feet on the floor, and
with the seat belt worn correctly. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator still
remains illuminated, either ask the passenger to move to the rear seat, or
if that is not possible, move the front passenger seat fully rearward.
● When it is unavoidable to install a forward-facing child restraint system on
the front passenger seat, install the child restraint system on the front pas-
senger seat in the proper order. ( P. 167)
● Do not modify or remove the front seats.
● Do not kick the front passenger seat or subject it to severe impact. Other-
wise, the SRS warning light may come on to indicate a malfunction of the
detection system. In this case, contact your Toyota dealer immediately.
● Child restraint systems installed on the rear seat should not contact the
front seatbacks.
● Do not use a seat accessory, such as a cushion and seat cover, that cov-
ers the seat cushion surface.
● Do not modify or replace the upholstery of the front seat.

162
1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_OM_OM47791U_(U)
Child restraint systems
Points to rememberStudies have shown that installing a child restraint on a rear seat is
much safer than installing one to the front passenger seat.
● Choose a child restraint system th at suits your vehicle and is
appropriate to the age and size of the child.
● For installation details, follow the instructions provided with the
child restraint system.
General installation instructions are provided in this manual.
( P. 167)
A child restraint system for a small ch ild or baby must itself be prop-
erly restrained on the seat with the lap portion of the lap/shoulder
belt.
The laws of all 50 states of the U.S.A. and Canada now require the
use of child restraint systems.

163
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
PRIUS_OM_OM47791U_(U)
Types of child restraints
Child restraint systems are classi fied into the following 3 types
according to the age and size of the child.
Rear facing  Infant seat/convertible seat
Forward facing  Convertible seat
Booster seat

164 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_OM_OM47791U_(U)
■When installing a child restraint system on the front passenger seat
■ Selecting an appropriat e child restraint system
● Use a child restraint system appropriate for the child until the child
becomes large enough to properly w ear the vehicle’s seat belt.
● If the child is too large for a child restraint system, sit the child on a rear
seat and use the vehicle’s seat belt. ( P. 111 )
CAUTION
■Child restraint precautions
● For effective protection in automobile accidents and sudden stops, a child
must be properly restrained, using a seat belt or child restraint system
depending on the age and size of the child. Holding a child in your arms is
not a substitute for a child restraint system. In an accident, the child can be
crushed against the windshield, or between you and the vehicle’s interior.
● Toyota strongly urges the use of a proper child restraint system that con-
forms to the size of the child, installed on the rear seat. According to acci-
dent statistics, the child is safer when properly restrained in the rear seat
than in the front seat.
When you have to use a child restraint
system on the front passenger seat,
adjust the following:
●The seatback to the most upright posi-
tion
● The seat cushion to the fully rearward
position

165
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
PRIUS_OM_OM47791U_(U)
CAUTION
■
Child restraint precautions
● Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on the front passenger
seat even if the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated. In the event
of an accident, the force of the rapid inflation of the front passenger airbag
can cause death or serious injury to the child if the rear-facing child
restraint system is installed on the front passenger seat.
● A forward-facing child restraint system may be installed on the front pas-
senger seat only when it is unavoidable. A child restraint system that
requires a top tether strap should not be used in the front passenger seat
since there is no top tether strap anchor for the front passenger seat.
Adjust the seatback as upright as possible and always move the seat as
far back as possible even if the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illumi-
nated, because the front passenger airbag could inflate with considerable
speed and force. Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously injured.
● Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a child restraint system
on the front or rear passenger seat. If installing a child restraint system
with the seat belt extender connected to the seat belt, the seat belt will not
securely hold the child restraint system, which could cause death or seri-
ous injury to the child or other passengers in the event of a sudden stop,
sudden swerve or accident.
● Do not allow the child to lean his/her head or any part of his/her body
against the door or the area of the seat , front and rear pillars or roof side
rails from which the SRS side airbags or SRS curtain shield airbags deploy
even if the child is seated in the child restraint system. It is dangerous if
the SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags inflate, and the impact
could cause death or serious injury to the child.
● Make sure you have complied with all installation instructions provided by
the child restraint manufacturer and that the system is properly secured. If
it is not secured properly, it may cause death or serious injury to the child
in the event of a sudden stop, sudden swerve or accident.

166 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_OM_OM47791U_(U)
CAUTION
■When children are in the vehicle
Do not allow children to play with the seat belt. If the seat belt becomes
twisted around a child’s neck, it may lead to choking or other serious injuries
that could result in death.
If this occurs and the buckle cannot be unfastened, scissors should be used
to cut the belt.
■ When the child restrain t system is not in use
● Keep the child restraint system properly secured on the seat even if it is
not in use. Do not store the child restraint system unsecured in the pas-
senger compartment.
● If it is necessary to detach the child restraint system, remove it from the
vehicle or store it securely in the luggage compartment. This will prevent it
from injuring passengers in the event of a sudden stop, sudden swerve or
accident.

167
1
1-8. Safety information
Before driving
PRIUS_OM_OM47791U_(U)
Installing child restraints
Follow the child restraint system manufacturer’s instructions. Firmly
secure child restraints to the seat s using the LATCH anchors or a
seat belt. Attach the top tether stra p when installing a child restraint.
The lap/shoulder belt can be used if your child restraint system is
not compatible with the LATCH (Low er Anchors and Tethers for Chil-
dren) system.
Child restraint LATCH anchors
LATCH anchors are provided
for the outer rear seats. (But-
tons displaying the location of
the anchors are attached to
the seats.)
Seat belts equipped with a
child restraint locking mecha-
nism (ALR/ELR belts except
driver’s seat belt) ( P. 111 )
Anchor brackets (for top tether
strap)
An anchor bracket is provided
for each rear seat.

168 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_OM_OM47791U_(U)
Installation with LATCH systemWiden the gap between the seat cushion and seatback
slightly.
Ty p e A Latch the hooks of the lower
straps onto the LATCH anchors.
If the child restraint has a top
tether strap, the top tether strap
should be latched onto the top
tether strap anchor.
For owners in Canada:
The symbol on a child restraint
system indicates the presence of
a lower connector system.
STEP 1
Canada only
STEP 2