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196
1-9. Safety information
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
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.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises:
Since the risk zone for the driver’s airbag is the first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm)
of  inflation,  placing  yourself  10  in. (250  mm)  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 10 in.
(250  mm)  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  10  in.
(250 mm) distance, even with the driver seat all the way forward, sim-
ply 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 by NHTSA above, while still
maintaining  control  of  the  foot  pedals,  steering  wheel,  and  your  view  of  the
instrument panel controls. 
         
        
        
     
        
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198
1-9. Safety information
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
●Do  not  sit  on  the  edge  of  the  seat  or
lean against the dashboard.
●Do  not  allow  a  child  to  stand  in  front  of
the  SRS  front  passenger  airbag  unit  or
sit on the knees of a front passenger.
●Do not allow the front seat occupants to
hold items on their knees.
●Do  not  lean  against  the  door,  the  roof
side  rail  or  the  front,  side  and  rear  pil-
lars.
●Do  not  allow  anyone  to  kneel  on  the
passenger  seat  toward  the  door  or  put
their head or hands outside the vehicle. 
         
        
        
     
        
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241
2-1. Driving procedures
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
2
When driving
NOTICE
■When encountering flooded roads
Do  not  drive  on  a  road  that  has  flooded  after  heavy  rain  etc.  Doing  so  may
cause the following serious damage to the vehicle:
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by water immersion
In  the  event  that  you  drive  on  a  flooded  road  and  the  vehicle  is  flooded,  be
sure to have your Toyota dealer check the following:
●Brake function
●Changes  in  quantity  and  quality  of  engine  oil,  transmission  fluid  for  the
hybrid system, etc.
●Lubricant  condition  for  the  bearings  and  suspension  joints  (where  possi-
ble), and the function of all joints, bearings, etc.
If  the  shift  control  system  is  damaged  by flooding,  it  may not  be possible to
shift the shift position to P, or from P to other positions. When the shift posi-
tion  cannot  be  changed  from  P  to  any  other  position,  the  front  wheels  will
lock,  and  you  will  be  unable  to  tow  the  vehicle  with  the  front  wheels  on  the
ground, as the front wheels may be locked. In this case, transport the vehicle
with both front wheels or all four wheels lifted. 
         
        
        
     
        
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250
2-1. Driving procedures
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
Shift position indicator
The  position  of  the  frame  on  the  shift  position  indicator  changes  in
accordance with the current shift position.
When any shift position other than D or B is selected, the arrow toward
B and B position indicator disappear from the shift position indicator.
When  selecting  the  shift  position,  make  sure  that  the  shift  position  has
been changed to the desired position by checking the shift position indica-
tor provided on the instrument cluster.
■Shift position purpose
*:For good fuel economy and noise reduction, the D position should usu-
ally be used.
Shift positionFunction 
PParking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*
BApplying moderate engine braking when driving 
down hills or on steep slopes 
         
        
        
     
        
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300
2-3. Operating the lights and windshield wipers
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
Tu r n i n g   o n   t h e   h i g h   b e a m   h e a d l i g h ts
With  the  headlights  on,  push
the  lever  away  from  you  to
turn on the high beams. 
Pull  the  lever  toward  you  to  the
center  position  to  turn  the  high
beams off.
Pull  the  lever  toward  you  and
release  it  to  flash  the  high
beams once.
Yo u   c a n   f l a s h   t h e   h i g h   b e a m s
with the headlights on or off.
■Daytime running light system 
●For  the  U.S.A.:  To  make  your  vehicle  more  visible  to  other  drivers,  the
daytime running lights turn on automatically whenever the hybrid system
is started and the parking brake is released.
Daytime  running  lights  can  be  turned  off  by  operating  the  switch.  (if
equipped)
For  Canada:  To  make  your  vehicle  more  visible  to  other  drivers,  the  day-
time running lights turn on automatically (at a reduced intensity) whenever
the  hybrid  system  is  started  and  the  parking  brake  is  released.  Daytime
running lights are not designed for use at night.
●For Canada: Compared to turning on the headlights, the daytime running
light  system  offers  greater  durability  and  consumes  less  electricity,  so  it
can help improve fuel economy. 
         
        
        
     
        
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314
2-4. Using other driving systems
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
■Adjusting the set speed
To   c h a n g e   t h e   s e t   s p e e d ,   o p e r a t e  the lever until the desired set
speed is obtained.
Increases the speed
Decreases the speed
Fine  adjustment:  Momentarily
move  the  lever  in  the  desired
direction. 
Large  adjustment:  Hold  the
lever in the desired direction.
The set speed will be increased or decreased as follows: 
Fine  adjustment:  By  approximately  1  mph  (1.6  km/h)  each  time
the lever is operated. 
Large  adjustment:  The  set  speed  can  be  increased  or
decreased continually until the lever is released.
■Canceling and resuming the constant speed control
Pulling the lever toward you
cancels  the  constant  speed
control.
The  speed  setting  is  also  can-
celed  when  the  brakes  are
applied.
Pushing  the  lever  up
resumes  the  constant
speed control.
Resuming  is  available  when
the  vehicle  speed  is  more
than  approximately  25  mph
(40 km/h).
ITO24P105
ITO24P106 
         
        
        
     
        
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316
2-4. Using other driving systems
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
CAUTION
■To   a v o i d   o p e r a t i n g   t h e   c r u i s e   c o n t r o l   b y   m i s ta k e
Switch the cruise control off using the “ON-OFF” button when not in use.
■Situations unsuitable for cruise control
Do not use cruise control in any of the following situations.
Doing so may result in loss of control and could cause an accident resulting
in death or serious injury.
●In heavy traffic
●On roads with sharp bends
●On winding roads
●On slippery roads, such as those covered with rain, ice or snow
●On steep hills
Ve h i c l e   s p e e d   m a y   e x c e e d   t h e   s e t   s p e e d   w h e n   d r i v i n g   d o w n   a   s t e e p   h i l l .
●During emergency towing 
         
        
        
     
        
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2-4. Using other driving systems
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A11U_(U)
2
When driving
■Canceling and resuming the speed control
Pulling the lever toward you
cancels the cruise control.
The  speed  setting  is  also  can-
celed  when  the  brakes  are
applied.
Pushing  the  lever  up
resumes  the  cruise  control
and  returns  vehicle  speed
to the set speed.
Resuming  is  available  when
the  vehicle  speed  is  more
than  approximately  25  mph
(40 km/h).
ITO24P127