Page 211 of 770
2093-4. Adjusting the steering wheel and mirrors
3
Operation of each component
PRIUS_OM_OM47F32E_(EE)
WARNING
■Important points while driving
Observe the following precautions while driving.
Failing to do so may result in loss of control of the vehicle and cause an
accident, resulting in death or serious injury.
● Do not adjust the mirrors while driving.
● Do not drive with the mirrors folded.
● Both the driver and passenger side mirrors must be extended and properly
adjusted before driving.
■ When a mirror is moving
To avoid personal injury and mirror malfunction, be careful not to get your
hand caught by the moving mirror.
■ When the mirror defoggers are operating
Do not touch the rear view mirror surfaces, as they can become very hot
and burn you.
Page 226 of 770

2244-1. Before driving
PRIUS_OM_OM47F32E_(EE)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■ When driving the vehicle
● Use engine braking (shift position B instead of shift position D) to maintain
a safe speed when driving down a steep hill.
Using the brakes continuously may cause the brakes to overheat and lose
effectiveness. ( P. 2 5 4 )
● Do not adjust the positions of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or
outside rear view mirrors while driving.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control.
● Always check that all passengers’ arms, head or other parts of their body
are not outside the vehicle.
● AWD models: Do not drive the vehicle off-road.
This is not an AWD vehicle designed fo r off-road driving. Proceed with all
due caution if it becomes unavoidable to drive off-road.
● Do not drive across river crossings or through other bodies of water.
This may cause electric/electronic components to short circuit, damage
the hybrid system or cause other serious damage to the vehicle.
■ When driving on slippery road surfaces
● Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and
reduce your ability to control the vehicle.
● Sudden acceleration, engine braking due to shifting, or changes in engine
speed could cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an accident.
● After driving through a puddle, depress the brake pedal to make sure that
the brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads may prevent the
brakes from functioning properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet
and not functioning properly, steering control may be affected.
Page 240 of 770

2384-1. Before driving
PRIUS_OM_OM47F32E_(EE)
■Tire information
●Increase the tire inflation pressure to 20.0 kPa (0.2 kgf/cm2 or bar, 3 psi)
greater than the recommended value when towing. (P. 665)
●Increase the air pressure of the trailer tires in accordance with the total
trailer weight and according to the values recommended by the manufac-
turer of your trailer.
■Break-in schedule
Toyota recommends that vehicles fitted with new power train components
should not be used for towing trailers for the first 800 km (500 miles).
■Safety checks before towing
●Check that the maximum load limit for the towing hitch/bracket and hitch ball
is not exceeded. Bear in mind that the coupling weight of the trailer will add
to the load exerted on the vehicle. Also make sure that the total load exerted
on the vehicle is within the range of the weight limits. (P. 234)
●Ensure that the trailer load is secure.
●Supplementary outside rear view mirrors should be added to the vehicle if
the traffic behind cannot be clearly seen with standard mirrors. Adjust the
extending arms of these mirrors on both sides of the vehicle so that they
always provide maximum visibility of the road behind.
■Maintenance
●Maintenance must be performed more frequently when using the vehicle for
towing due to the greater weight burden placed on the vehicle compared to
normal driving.
●Retighten all bolts securing the hitching ball and bracket after towing for
approximately 1000 km (600 miles).
Page 271 of 770

2694-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
PRIUS_OM_OM47F32E_(EE)●In the situations shown below, the system may not be able to accurately
detect surrounding brightness levels. This may cause the low beams to
remain on or the high beams to cause problems for pedestrians, vehicles
ahead or other parties. In these cases, manually switch between the high
and low beams.
• In bad weather (rain, snow, fog, sandstorms etc.)
• The windshield is obscured by fog, mist, ice, dirt etc.
• The windshield is cracked or damaged.
• The front camera is deformed or dirty.
• The front camera temperature is extremely high.
• Surrounding brightness levels are equal to those of headlights, tail lights
or fog lights.
• Vehicles ahead have headlights that are either switched off, dirty, are
changing color, or are not aimed properly.
• When driving through an area of intermittently changing brightness and
darkness.
• When frequently and repeatedly driving ascending/descending roads, or
roads with rough, bumpy or uneven surfaces (such as stone-paved
roads, gravel tracks etc.).
• When frequently and repeatedly taking curves or driving on a winding
road.
• There is a highly reflective object ahead of the vehicle, such as a sign or
a mirror.
• The back of a vehicle ahead is highly reflective, such as a container on a
truck.
• The vehicle’s headlights are damaged or dirty.
• The vehicle is listing or tilting, due to a flat tire, a trailer being towed etc.
• The high beam and low beam are repeatedly being switched between in
an abnormal manner.
• The driver believes that the high beam may be causing problems or dis-
tress to other drivers or pedestrians nearby.
■If “Headlight System Malfunction Visit Your Dealer” is displayed on the
multi-information display
The system may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle inspected by any autho-
rized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer.
Page 288 of 770

2864-5. Using the driving support systems
PRIUS_OM_OM47F32E_(EE)
WARNING
●Do not dirty or damage the front camera.
When cleaning the inside of the windshi eld, do not allow glass cleaner to
contact the lens of the front camera. Also, do not touch the lens.
If the lens is dirty or damaged, contact any authorized Toyota retailer or
Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer.
● Do not subject the front camera to a strong impact.
● Do not change the installation position or direction of the front camera or
remove it.
● Do not disassemble the front camera.
● Do not modify any components of the vehicle around the front camera
(inside rear view mirror, etc.) or ceiling.
● Do not attach any accessories to the hood, front grille or front bumper that
may obstruct the front camera. Contact any authorized Toyota retailer or
Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer for details.
● If a surfboard or other long object is to be mounted on the roof, make sure
that it will not obstruct the front camera.
● Do not modify the headlights or other lights.
Page 358 of 770
3564-5. Using the driving support systems
PRIUS_OM_OM47F32E_(EE)
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor)
The Blind Spot Monitor is a system that has 2 functions;
●The Blind Spot Monitor function
Assists the driver in making the decision when changing lanes
●The Rear Crossing Traffic Alert function
Assists the driver when backing up
These functions use same sensors.
Outside rear view mirror indicators
Blind Spot Monitor function:
When a vehicle is detected in the blind spot, the outside rear view mirror
indicator comes on while the turn signal lever is not operated. If the turn
signal lever is operated toward the detected side, the outside rear view
mirror indicator flashes.
Rear Crossing Traffic Alert function:
When a vehicle approaching from the right or left rear of the vehicle is
detected, the outside rear view mirror indicators flash.
: If equipped
Summary of the Blind Spot Monitor
1
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3584-5. Using the driving support systems
PRIUS_OM_OM47F32E_(EE)
■The BSM outside rear view mirror indicators visibility
When under strong sunlight, the outside rear view mirror indicator may be dif-
ficult to see.
■The Rear Crossing Traffic Alert buzzer hearing
The Rear Crossing Traffic Alert buzzer may be difficult to hear over loud
noises such as high audio volume.
■When “Blind Spot Monitor Unavailable” is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display
The sensor voltage has become abnormal, water, snow mud, etc., may be
built up in the vicinity of the sensor area of bumper (P. 371). Removing the
water, snow, mud, etc., from the vicinity of the sensor area bumper should
return it to normal. Also, the sensor may not function normally when used in
extremely hot or cold weather.
■When “Blind Spot Monitor System Malfunction Visit Your Dealer” is
shown on the multi-information display
There may be a sensor malfunction or misaligned. Have the vehicle
inspected by any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or
any reliable repairer.
■Customization
The brightness of the outside rear view mirror indicators can be changed.
(Customizable features: P. 670)
Page 374 of 770
3724-5. Using the driving support systems
PRIUS_OM_OM47F32E_(EE)
The Blind Spot Monitor function uses radar sensors to detect vehicles
that are traveling in an adjacent lane in the area that is not reflected in
the outside rear view mirror (the blind spot), and advises the driver of
the vehicle’s existence via the outside rear view mirror indicator.
The areas that vehicles can be detected in are outlined below.
The range of the detection area extends to:
Approximately 3.5 m (11.5 ft.)
from the side of the vehicle
The first 0.5 m (1.6 ft.) from the
side of the vehicle is not in the
detection area
Approximately 3 m (9.8 ft.) from
the rear bumper
Approximately 1 m (3.3 ft.) for-
ward of the rear bumper
The Blind Spot Monitor function
The Blind Spot Monitor function detection areas
1
2
3