
326
PRIUS PRIME_OM_OM47C77U_(U)
5-1. Before driving
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 le ad 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 ov er 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 n ot place con-
tainers such as air fresheners on the instrument panel or dashboard. Adhe-
sive discs or containers may act as lenses, causing a fire in the vehicle.
● 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 sunligh t 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.

336
PRIUS PRIME_OM_OM47C77U_(U)
5-2. Driving procedures
Power (ignition) switch
Check that the charging cable is disconnected. (P. 1 4 6 )
Check that the park ing brake is set.
Firmly depress the brake pedal.
and a message will be dis-
played on the multi-information dis-
play.
When the shift position is N, the
hybrid system cannot start. Shift
the shift position to P when starting
the hybrid system. ( P. 3 4 3 )
Press the power switch shortly
and firmly.
When operating the power switch,
one short, firm press is enough. It
is not necessary to press and hold
the switch.
If the “READY” indicator turns on,
the hybrid system will operate nor-
mally.
Continue depressing the brake pedal until the “READY” indicator is illumi-
nated.
The hybrid system can be started from any power switch mode.
Check that the “R EADY” indicator is illuminated.
If the “READY” indicator changes from a flashing light to a sol id light and
the buzzer sounds, the hybrid system is starting normally.
The vehicle will not move when the “READY” indicator is off.
The vehicle can move when the “READY” indicator is on even if t he engine
is stopped. (The gasoline engine starts or stops automatically in accor-
dance with the state of the vehicle.)
Performing the following opera tions when carrying the elec-
tronic key on your person starts the hybrid system or changes
power switch modes.
Starting the hybrid system
1
2
3
4
5

340
PRIUS PRIME_OM_OM47C77U_(U)
5-2. Driving procedures
■Meter display
When the power switch is turned off, each display will turn off as follows.
● The shift position indicator will turn off after approximately 2 seconds.
● The multi-information display, clock, etc. will turn off after approximately 30
seconds. (Each display will also turn off immediately if a door is locked
before 30 seconds has elapsed.)
■ If the smart key system has been d eactivated in a customized setting
P. 700
WARNING
■ When starting the hybrid system
Always start the hybrid system while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not
depress the accelerator pedal while starting the hybrid system under any
circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious in jury.
■ Stopping the hybrid system in an emergency
● If you want to stop the hybrid system in an emergency while driving the
vehicle, press and hold the power switch for more than 2 second s, or
press it briefly 3 times or more in succession. ( P. 653)
However, do not touch the power switch while driving except in an emer-
gency. Turning the hybrid system off while driving will not cause loss of
steering or braking control, however, power assist to the steer ing will be
lost. This will make it more difficult to steer smoothly, so you should pull
over and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
● If the power switch is operated while the vehicle is running, a warning
message will be shown on the multi-information display and a buzzer
sounds.
● When restarting the hybrid system after an emergency shutdown w hile
driving, press the power switch. When restarting the hybrid sys tem after
stopping the vehicle, change the shift position to P and then press the
power switch.

PRIUS PRIME_OM_OM47C77U_(U)
3435-2. Driving procedures
5
Driving
*: For good fuel economy and noise reduction, the D position should usually
be used.
P. 4 1 9
■When shifting the shift position to P
Fully stop the vehicle and set
the parking brake, and then
press the P position switch.
When the shift position is
changed to P, the switch indica-
tor comes on.
Check that the P position is
highlighted on the shift position
indicator.
■
Shifting the shift position from P to other positions
● While depressing the brake pedal f irmly, operate the shift lever. I f
the shift lever is operated withou t depressing the brake pedal, the
buzzer will sound and the shifting operation will be disabled.
● When selecting the shift position, make sure that the shift pos i-
tion has been changed to the desired position by checking the
shift position indica tor provided on the in strument cluster.
● The shift position cannot be changed from P to B directly.
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
(Condition in which the power is not transmitted)
DNormal driving*
B
Applying engine braking or strong braking when the
accelerator pedal has been released on steep down-
ward slopes etc.
Selecting a driving mode
P position switch

PRIUS PRIME_OM_OM47C77U_(U)
3455-2. Driving procedures
5
Driving
■Reverse warning buzzer
When shifting into R, a buzzer will sound to inform the driver that the shift
position is in R.
■ Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start Control)
P. 320
■ Automatic P position selection function
●If the power switch is on and the shift position is not already P, completely
stopping the vehicle and pressing the power switch causes the s hift position
to automatically switch to P and the power switch to turn off.
*
● The shift position may also automatically switch to P if one of the following
conditions is detected while the vehicle is stopped by dynamic radar cruise
control with full-speed range.
• Driver’s seat belt is not fastened
• Driver’s door is opened
• Approximately 3 minutes elapse after the vehicle stopped
*: If the power switch is pressed when driving at very low speeds (for exam-
ple, just before the vehicle stops), the shift position may automatically
switch to P. Press the power switch after completely stopping t he vehicle to
prevent unexpected sudden stopping of the vehicle.
■ If the shift position cannot be shifted from P
There is a possibility that the 12-volt battery is discharged. Check the 12-volt
battery in this situation. ( P. 703)
■ About engine braking
When shift position B is selected, releasing the accelerator pe dal will apply
engine braking.
● When the vehicle is driven at high speeds, compared to ordinary gasoline-
fueled vehicles, the engine braking deceleration is felt less t han that of other
vehicles.
● The vehicle can be accelerated even when shift position B is se lected.
If the vehicle is driven continuously in the B position, fuel e fficiency will
become low. Usually, select the D position.
■ After recharging/reconnecting the 12-volt battery
P. 596

408
PRIUS PRIME_OM_OM47C77U_(U)
5-5. Using the driving support systems
Example of constant speed cruising
When there are no vehicles ahead
The vehicle travels at the speed set by the driver. The desired vehicle-to-
vehicle distance can also be set by operating the vehicle-to-ve hicle dis-
tance switch.
Example of deceleration crui sing and follow-up cruising
When a preceding vehicle driving slower than the set speed
appears
When a vehicle is detected running ahead of you, the system automatically
decelerates your vehicle. When a greater reduction in vehicle s peed is
necessary, the system applies the brakes (the stop lights will come on at
this time). The system will respond to changes in the speed of the vehicle
ahead in order to maintain the vehicle-to-vehicle distance set by the driver.
Approach warning warns you when the system cannot decelerate su ffi-
ciently to prevent your vehicle fr om closing in on the vehicle ahead.
When the vehicle ahead of you stops, your vehicle will also stop (vehicle is
stopped by system control). After the vehicle ahead starts off, pushing the
cruise control lever up or depressing the accelerator pedal will resume fol-
low-up cruising.
Example of acceleration
When there are no longer any preceding vehicles driving slower
than the set speed
The system accelerates until the set speed is reached. The syst em then
returns to constant speed cruising.
1
2
3

412
PRIUS PRIME_OM_OM47C77U_(U)
5-5. Using the driving support systems
After the vehicle ahead of you
starts off, push the lever up.
Your vehicle will also resume fol-
low-up cruising if the accelerator
pedal is depressed after the vehi-
cle ahead of you starts off.
Pulling the lever toward you
cancels the speed control.
The speed control is also canceled
when the brake pedal is
depressed.
(When the vehicle has been
stopped by system control,
depressing the brake pedal does
not cancel the setting.)
Pushing the lever up resumes the cruise control and returns veh icle
speed to the set speed.
However, when a vehicle ahead is not detected, cruise control does not
resume when the vehicle speed is approximately 25 mph (40 km/h) or less.
Resuming follow-up cruising when the vehicle has been stopped
by system control (vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode)
Canceling and resuming the speed control
1
2

PRIUS PRIME_OM_OM47C77U_(U)
4155-5. Using the driving support systems
5
Driving
■Dynamic radar cruise control wi th full-speed range can be set when
● The shift position is in D.
● Vehicle speed is at or above approximately 30 mph (50 km/h).
However, when a preceding vehicle is detected, the dynamic rada r cruise
control with full-speed range can be set even if the vehicle sp eed is below
approximately 30 mph (50 km/h).
■ Accelerating after setting the vehicle speed
The vehicle can accelerate by operating the accelerator pedal. After acceler-
ating, the set speed resumes. However, during vehicle-to-vehicl e distance
control mode, the vehicle speed may decrease below the set spee d in order
to maintain the distance to the preceding vehicle.
■ When the vehicle stops while follow-up cruising
●Pushing the lever up while the vehicle ahead stops will resume follow-up
cruising if the vehicle ahead starts off within approximately 3 seconds after
the lever is pushed up.
● If the vehicle ahead starts off within 3 seconds after your veh icle stops, fol-
low-up cruising will be resumed.
■ Automatic cancelation of vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode is automatically cance led in the fol-
lowing situations:
● Actual vehicle speed falls at or below approximately 25 mph (40 km/h) when
there are no vehicles ahead.
● The preceding vehicle leaves the lane when your vehicle is following at a
vehicle speed at or below approximately 25 mph (40 km/h). Other wise, the
sensor can not properly detect the vehicle.
● VSC is activated.
● TRAC is activated for a period of time.
● When the VSC or TRAC system is turned off.
● The sensor cannot detect correctly because it is covered in some way.
● Pre-collision braking is activated.
● Parking Support Brake function is operated. (if equipped)
● The parking brake is operated.
● The vehicle is stopped by system control on a steep incline.
● The following are detected when the vehicle has been stopped by system
control:
• The driver is not wearing a seat belt.
• The driver’s door is opened.
• The vehicle has been stopped for about 3 minutes.
In this situation, the shift position may automatically switch to P. (P. 345)
If vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode is automatically ca nceled for any
other reason, there may be a malfunction in the system. Contact your Toyota
dealer.