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PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Trailer towing
Toyota  does  not  recommend  towing  a  trailer  with  your  vehicle.
Toyota  also  does  not  recommend  the  installation  of  a  tow  hitch
or  the  use  of  a  tow  hitch  carrier  for  a  wheelchair,  scooter,  bi cy-
cle, etc. Your vehicle is not des igned for trailer towing or for the
use of tow hitch  mounted carriers. 
     
        
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PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
Dinghy towing
Your  vehicle  is  not  designed  to  be  dinghy  towed  (with  4  wheels
on the ground) behind a motor home. 
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with the four wheels on the ground.
■ To  prevent  causing  serious  damage  to  the  hybrid  transmission  and
AWD system (AWD models)
2WD models: Never tow this vehicle from
the  rear  with  the  front  wheels  on  the
ground. This may cause serious damage
to the hybrid transmission.
AWD models: Never tow this vehicle with
any  of  the  wheels  on  the  ground.  This
may cause serious damage to the hybrid
transmission and AWD system. 
     
        
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PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
■High beam automatic turning on or off conditions
●When all of the following conditions are fulfilled, the high be am will be auto-
matically turned on (after approximately 1 second):
• Vehicle speed is above approximately 21 mph (34 km/h).
• The area ahead of the vehicle is dark.
• There are no vehicles ahead with headlights or tail lights turned on.
• There are few streetlights on the road ahead.
● If any of the following conditions are fulfilled, the high beam  will be automat-
ically turned off:
• Vehicle speed drops below approximately 17 mph (27 km/h).
• The area ahead of the vehicle is not dark.
• Vehicles ahead have headlights or tail lights turned on.
• There are many streetlights on the road ahead.
■ Front camera detection information
●The  high  beam  may  not  be  automatically  turned  off  in  the  following  situa-
tions:
• When oncoming vehicles suddenly appear from a curve
• When the vehicle is cut in front of by another vehicle
• When vehicles ahead are hidden from sight due to repeated curv es, road
dividers or roadside trees
• When vehicles ahead appear from the faraway lane on wide road
• When vehicles ahead vehicles have no lights
● The  high  beam  may  be  turned  off  if  a  vehicle  ahead  that  is  usin g  fog  lights
without using the headlights is detected.
● House lights, street lights, traffic signals, and illuminated billboards or signs
may cause  the high  beam  to switch to  the low  beams,  or the  low  beams  to
remain on.
● The  following  factors  may  affect  the  amount  of  time  taken  to  tu rn  the  high
beam on or off:
• The brightness of headlights, fog lights, and tail lights of v ehicles ahead
• The movement and direction of vehicles ahead
• When a vehicle ahead only has operational lights on one side
• When a vehicle ahead is a two-wheeled vehicle
• The  condition  of  the  road  (gradient,  curve,  condition  of  the  r oad  surface
etc.)
• The number of passengers and amount of luggage
● The high beam may be turned on or off when the driver does not  expect it.
● Bicycles or similar objects may not be detected. 
     
        
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PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
4-5. Using the driving support systems
WARNING
■Limitations of the pre-collision system
● The driver is solely responsible for safe driving. Always drive safely, taking
care to observe your surroundings. 
Do  not  use  the  pre-collision  system  instead  of  normal  braking  o perations
under any circumstances. This system will not prevent collision s or lessen
collision damage or injury in every situation. Do not overly re ly on this sys-
tem. Failure to do so may lead to an accident, resulting in dea th or serious
injury.
● Although  this  system  is  designed  to  help  avoid  a  collision  or  h elp  reduce
the impact of the collision, its effectiveness may change according to vari-
ous  conditions,  therefore  the  system  may  not  always  be  able  to  achieve
the same level of performance. 
Read  the  following  conditions  carefully.  Do  not  overly  rely  on  this  system
and always drive carefully.
• Conditions under which the system may operate even if there is  no pos-
sibility of a collision:  P. 302
• Conditions under which the system may not operate properly:  P. 304
● Do not attempt to test the operation of the pre-collision syste m yourself. 
Depending  on  the  objects  used  for  testing  (dummies,  cardboard  o bjects
imitating  detectable  objects,  etc.),  the  system  may  not  operate   properly,
possibly leading to an accident.
■ Pre-collision braking
● When  the  pre-collision  braking  function  is  operating,  a  large  a mount  of
braking force will be applied.
● If the vehicle is stopped by the operation of the pre-collision braking func-
tion,  the  pre-collision  braking  function  operation  will  be  canceled  after
approximately 2 seconds. Depress the brake pedal as necessary.
● The pre-collision braking function may not operate if certain o perations are
performed  by  the  driver.  If  the  accelerator  pedal  is  being  depressed
strongly  or the  steering  wheel  is  being  turned,  the  system  may  determine
that  the  driver  is  taking  evasive  action  and  possibly  prevent  t he  pre-colli-
sion braking function from operating.
● In  some  situations,  while  the  pre-collision  braking  function  is   operating,
operation  of  the  function  may  be  canceled  if  the  accelerator  pedal  is
depressed  strongly  or  the  steering  wheel  is  turned  and  the  syst em  deter-
mines that the driver is taking evasive action.
● If the brake pedal is being depressed, the system may determine  that the
driver  is  taking  evasive  action  and  possibly  delay  the  operation  timing  of
the pre-collision braking function. 
     
        
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PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
4-5. Using the driving support systems
■Object detection function
■ Cancelation of the pre-collision braking
If either of the following occur while the pre-collision brakin g function is oper-
ating, it will be canceled:
● The accelerator pedal is depressed strongly.
● The steering wheel is turned sharply or abruptly.
■ Conditions under which the system may operate even if there is  no pos-
sibility of a collision
● In  some  situations  such  as  the  following,  the  system  may  determ ine  that
there is a possibility of a frontal collision and operate.
• When passing a detectable object, etc.
• When changing lanes while overtaking a detectable object, etc.
• When rapidly closing on a detectable object, etc.
• When  approaching  objects  on  the  roadside,  such  as  detectable  o bjects,
guardrails, utility poles, trees, or walls
The  system  detects  objects  based  on
their  size,  profile,  motion,  etc.  However,
an object may not be detected depending
on  the  surrounding  brightness  and  the
motion,  posture,  and  angle  of  the
detected  object,  preventing  the  system
from operating properly. (
P. 304) 
The illustration shows an image of detect-
able objects.
• When  approaching  a  detectableobject  in  an  adjacent  lane  or  on  the
roadside, such as when changing the
course  of  travel  or  driving  on  a  wind-
ing road 
     
        
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PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
3054-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
• If a vehicle ahead is narrow, such as a personal mobility vehi cle
• If a preceding vehicle has a small rear end, such as an unload ed truck
• If a vehicle ahead is carrying a load which protrudes past its rear bumper
• If a vehicle ahead is irregularly shaped, such as a tractor or side car
• If a vehicle ahead is a child sized bicycle, a bicycle that is  carrying a large
load,  a  bicycle  ridden  by  more  than  one  person,  or  a  uniquely  shaped
bicycle (bicycle with a child seat, tandem bicycle, etc.)
• If  a  pedestrian/or  the  riding  height  of  a  bicyclist  ahead  is  s horter  than
approximately 3.2 ft. (1 m) or taller than approximately 6.5 ft. (2 m)
• If  a  pedestrian/bicyclist  is  wearing  oversized  clothing  (a  rai n  coat,  long
skirt, etc.), making their silhouette obscure
• If a pedestrian is bending forward or squatting or bicyclist i s bending for-
ward
• If a pedestrian/bicyclist is moving fast
• If a pedestrian is pushing a stroller, wheelchair, bicycle or  other vehicle
• When  driving  in  inclement  weather  such  as  heavy  rain,  fog,  snow  or  a
sandstorm
• When driving through steam or smoke
• When  the  surrounding  area  is  dim,  such  as  at  dawn  or  dusk,  or  while  at
night  or  in  a  tunnel,  making  a  detectable  object  appear  to  be  n early  the
same color as its surroundings
• When driving in  a place where the  surrounding brightness changes  sud-
denly, such as at the entrance or exit of a tunnel
• After the hybrid system has started the vehicle has not been d riven for a
certain amount of time
• While  making  a  left/right  turn  and  for  a  few  seconds  after  mak ing  a  left/
right turn
• While driving on a curve and for a few seconds after driving o n a curve
• If your vehicle is skidding • If  a  preceding  vehicle  has  a  low  rear end, such as a low bed trailer
• If a vehicle ahead has extremely high ground clearance 
     
        
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PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
4-5. Using the driving support systems
• If the wheels are misaligned
• If a wiper blade is blocking the front camera
• The vehicle is being driven at extremely high speeds
• When driving on a hill
• If the radar sensor or front camera is misaligned
● In some situations such as the following, sufficient braking fo rce may not be
obtained, preventing the system from performing properly:
• If  the  braking  functions  cannot  operate  to  their  full  extent,  such  as  when
the brake parts are extremely cold, extremely hot, or wet
• If  the  vehicle  is  not  properly  maintained  (brakes  or  tires  are   excessively
worn, improper tire inflation pressure, etc.)
• When  the  vehicle  is  being  driven  on  a  gravel  road  or  other  sli ppery  sur-
face
■ If VSC is disabled
●If VSC is disabled ( P. 422), the pre-collision brake assist and pre-collision
braking functions are also disabled.
● The PCS warning light will turn on and “VSC Turned Off Pre-Coll ision Brake
System Unavailable” will be displayed on the multi-information  display.
• If  the  front  of  the  vehicle  is  raised  or
lowered 
     
        
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PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
4-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
LTA (Lane Tracing Assist)
While  driving  on  a  road  with  clear  white  (yellow)  lane  lines,  t he  LTA
system  warns  the  driver  if  the  vehicle  may  deviate  from  the  cur rent
lane  or  course
*,  and  also  can  slightly  operate  the  steering  wheel  to
help avoid deviation from the lane or course
*. Also, while the dynamic
radar cruise control with full-s peed range is operating, this s ystem will
operate the steering wheel to ma intain the vehicle’s lane position.
The  LTA  system  recognizes  white
(yellow)  lane  lines  or  a  course
*
using  the  front  camera.  Addition-
ally,  it  detects  preceding  vehicles
using the front camera and radar.
*: Boundary  between  asphalt  and  the side of the road, such as grass, soil,
or a curb
: If equipped
Summary of functions