Page 298 of 744

2984-3. Adjusting the seats
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A89E_(EE)
WARNING
■When folding the seatbacks down
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
● Do not fold the seatbacks down while driving.
● Stop the vehicle on level ground, apply the parking brake firmly and shift
the shift position to P.
● Do not allow anyone to sit on a folded seatback or in the luggage compart-
ment while driving.
● Do not allow children to enter the luggage compartment.
● Do not operate the rear seat if it is occupied.
● Be careful not to get feet or hands caught in the moving parts or joints of
the seats during operation.
● Do not allow children to operate the seat.
■ After returning the seatback to the upright position
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
● Check that the seat belts are not twisted or caught in the seatback.
●Make sure that the seatback is securely
locked in position by lightly pushing it
back and forth.
If the seatbacks is not securely locked,
the red marking will be visible on the
seatback lock release lever. Make sure
that the red marking is not visible.
Page 311 of 744

311
5Driving
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A89E_(EE)5-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle ............. 312
Cargo and luggage ............ 324
Trailer towing ..................... 326
5-2. Driving procedures
Power (ignition) switch ....... 327
Hybrid transmission ........... 333
Turn signal lever ................ 339
Parking brake .................... 340
5-3. Operating the lights
and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 341
AHS (Adaptive High-beam
System) ........................... 345
Fog light switch .................. 351
Windshield wipers and
washer ............................. 3525-4. Refueling
Opening the fuel tank
cap ................................... 355
5-5. Using the driving
support systems
Toyota Safety Sense ......... 359
PCS (Pre-Crash Safety
system) ............................ 368
LDA (Lane Departure Alert
with steering control) ....... 382
RSA (Road Sign Assist)..... 392
Dynamic radar cruise
control with full-speed
range ............................... 397
Driving mode select
switch............................... 412
Speed limiter ...................... 414
BSM
(Blind Spot Monitor) ......... 417
• The Blind Spot Monitor
function .......................... 423
• The Rear Crossing
Traffic Alert function ...... 427
Toyota parking
assist-sensor ................... 432
Intelligent Clearance
Sonar ............................... 443
S-IPA (Simple Intelligent
Parking Assist
System) ........................... 456
Driving assist systems ....... 491
5-6. Driving tips
Winter driving tips .............. 498
Page 312 of 744
3125-1. Before driving
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A89E_(EE)
Driving the vehicle
Check that the charging cable is disconnected. (P. 148)
P. 3 2 7
With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift position to D.
(P. 333)
Check that the shift position indicator shows D.
Release the parking brake. (P. 340)
Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelera-
tor pedal to accelerate the vehicle.
With the shift position in D, depress the brake pedal.
If necessary, set the parking brake.
If the vehicle is to be stopped for an extended period of time, shift the shift
position to P. (P. 334)
The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe
driving:
Before starting the hybrid system
Starting the hybrid system
Driving
Stopping
1
2
3
1
2
Page 313 of 744

3135-1. Before driving
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A89E_(EE)
5
Driving
Stop the vehicle completely.
Set the parking brake. (P. 340)
Shift the shift position to P. (P. 334)
Check that the shift position indicator shows P.
Press the power switch to stop the hybrid system.
Slowly release the brake pedal.
Lock the door, making sure that you have the electronic key on your
person.
If parking on a hill, block the wheels as needed.
Firmly set the parking brake with the brake pedal depressed, and
then shift the shift position to D.
Release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
■When starting off on an uphill
The hill-start assist control will activate. (P. 491)
■For electricity-saving and fuel-efficient driving
Understand the system characteristics of the vehicle to use the functions of
the hybrid system. Also, keep in mind that hybrid vehicles are similar to con-
ventional vehicles, and it is necessary to refrain from activities such as sud-
den acceleration. Refer to “Plug-in hybrid vehicle driving tips” (P. 108).
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the win-
dows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
●Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be espe-
cially slippery.
●Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain,
because there may be a layer of water between the tires and the road sur-
face, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properly.
Parking the vehicle
Starting off on a steep uphill
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
Page 319 of 744

3195-1. Before driving
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A89E_(EE)
5
Driving
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■ If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear indicators)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by any authorized Toyota
dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional as
soon as possible.
Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle w hen the wear limits of the brake pads
and/or those of the brake discs are exceeded.
■ When the vehicle is stopped
● Do not depress the accelerator pedal unnecessarily.
If the shift position is in any position other than P or N, the vehicle may
accelerate suddenly and unexpectedly, causing an accident.
● In order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep
depressing the brake pedal while stopped with the “READY” indicator is
illuminated, and apply the parking brake as necessary.
● If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused
by the vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal
and securely apply the parking brake as needed.
● Avoid revving or racing the engine.
Running the engine at high speed while the vehicle is stopped may cause
the exhaust system to overheat, which could result in a fire if combustible
material is nearby.
Page 320 of 744

3205-1. Before driving
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A89E_(EE)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■ When the vehicle is parked
● Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, spray cans, or soft drink cans in
the vehicle when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a
fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and
plastic material of glasses to deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the
interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehicle’s
electrical components.
● Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a
place such as the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit accidentally when
luggage is loaded or the seat is adjusted, causing a fire.
● Do not attach adhesive discs to the windshield or windows. Do not place
containers such as air fresheners on the instrument panel or dashboard.
Adhesive discs or containers may act as lenses, causing a fire in the vehi-
cle.
● Do not leave a door or window open if the curved glass is coated with a
metallized film such as a silver-colored one. Reflected sunlight may cause
the glass to act as a lens, causing a fire.
● Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift position to P, stop the hybrid
system and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the “READY” indicator is illumi-
nated.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift position in P but the parking brake is
not set, the vehicle may start to move, possibly leading to an accident.
● Do not touch the exhaust pipe while the “READY” indicator is illuminated
or immediately after turning the hybrid system off.
Doing so may cause burns.
Page 321 of 744

3215-1. Before driving
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A89E_(EE)
5
Driving
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■ When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the hybrid system off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move the
shift lever or depress the accelerator pedal, this could cause an accident or
fire due to hybrid system overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in
a poorly ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle,
leading to death or a serious health hazard.
■ When braking
● When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause
one side of the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also, the
parking brake may not securely hold the vehicle.
● If the electronically controlled assist function does not operate, do not fol-
low other vehicles closely and avoid downhill or sharp turns that require
braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, but the brake pedal should be
depressed more firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance will increase.
Have your brakes fixed immediately.
● The brake system consists of 2 or more individual hydraulic systems; if
one of the systems fails, the other(s) will still operate. In this case, the
brake pedal should be depressed more firmly than usual and the braking
distance will increase. Have your brakes fixed immediately.
Page 322 of 744

3225-1. Before driving
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47A89E_(EE)
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
● Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time during
driving, as this may restrain driving torque.
● Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake
pedals at the same time to hold the vehicle on a hill.
■ When parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake, and shift the shift position to P. Failure to do
so may cause the vehicle to move or the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if
the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed.
■ Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
● Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for
an extended period of time.
Doing so may damage the power steering motor.
● When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc.
■ If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and gradually depress the brake pedal to slow down the vehi-
cle.
● It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
● The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations.
● The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire: P. 658