belt TOYOTA PRIUS 2008 2.G Owner's Manual

90 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
Airbag system componentsFront passenger airbag
Side airbag (if equipped)
Curtain shield airbag
(if equipped)
SRS warning light
Driver airbag
Driver’s seat belt buckle
switch
Driver’s seat position sensor
Curtain shield airbag sensor
(if equipped) Side and curtain shield airbag
sensor (if equipped)
Front airbag sensor
Airbag sensor assembly
“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG
OFF” indicator lights
Front passenger’s seat belt
buckle switch
Occupant detection system
(ECU and sensors)

92 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
■Operating conditions (front airbags)
● The SRS front airbags will deploy if the severity of the frontal impact is
above the designed threshold level, comparable to an approximate 15
mph (25 km/h) collision, when the vehicle impacts straight into a fixed
barrier that does not move or deform.
However, this threshold velocity will be considerably higher if the vehicle
strikes an object, such as a parked vehicle or sign pole, which can move or
deform on impact, or if the vehicle is involved in an underride collision (e.g.
a collision in which the front of the vehicle “underrides”, or goes under, the
bed of a truck, etc.).
● It is possible that in some collisions where the forward deceleration of the
vehicle is very close to the designed threshold level, the SRS front air-
bags and the seat belt pretensioners may not activate together.
● The SRS front passenger airbags will not activate, if there is no passen-
ger sitting in the front passenger seat. However, the front passenger air-
bag may deploy, if heavy luggage is put, even if the seat is unoccupied.
(P. 101)
■ Operating conditions (side and curt ain shield airbags [if equipped])
● The SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags are designed to inflate
when the passenger compartment is subjected to a severe impact from
the side.
● The SRS front side airbag on the passenger seat will not activate, if there
is no passenger sitting in the front passenger seat. However, the front
side airbag on the passenger seat may deploy, if heavy luggage is put,
even if the seat is unoccupied. ( P. 101)

96 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the 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 driver airbag is the first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm) of
inflation, placing yourself 10 in. (250 mm) from your driver airbag provides
you with a clear margin of safety. This distance is measured from the cen-
ter 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, simply 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.

97
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
CAUTION
■
SRS airbag precautions
● The SRS front passenger airbag also deploys with considerable force, and
can cause death or serious injury especially if the front passenger is very
close to the airbag. The front passenger seat should be as far from the air-
bag as possible with the seatback adjusted, so the front passenger sits
upright.
● Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and children can be killed or
seriously injured by a deploying airbag. An infant or child who is too small
to use a seat belt should be properly secured using a child restraint sys-
tem. Toyota strongly recommends that all infants and children be placed in
the rear seats of the vehicle and properly restrained. The rear seats are
the safest for infants and children. (P. 107)
● If the seat belt extender has been con-
nected to the driver’s seat belt buckle
but the seat belt extender has not also
been fastened to the latch plate of the
driver’s seat belt, the SRS driver’s air-
bag system will judge that the driver is
wearing the seat belt even though the
seat belt has not been connected. In
this case, the driver’s airbag may not
activate correctly in a collision, resulting
in death or serious injury in the event of
collision. Be sure to wear the seat belt
with the seat belt extender.

101
1
1-8. Safety information
Before driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
Front passenger occupant classification system
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classifica-
tion system. This system detects the conditions of the front passen-
ger seat and activates or deactivates the devices for front passenger.
SRS warning light
“AIR BAG OFF” indicator light
“AIR BAG ON” indicator light
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light

102 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
Condition and operation in the front passenger occupant classi-
fication system■ Adult
*1
■Child*3 or child restraint system*4
Indicator/
warning light “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator lights “AIR BAG
ON”
SRS warning light Off
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light Flashing
*2
Devices Front passenger airbag
Activated
Side airbag on the right side
passenger seats
Curtain shield airbag in the front passenger side
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner
Indicator/
warning light “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator lights “AIR BAG
OFF”*5
SRS warning light Off
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light Flashing
*2
Devices Front passenger airbag
Deactivated
Side airbag on the right side
passenger seats
Curtain shield airbag in the front passenger side Activated
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner Activated

103
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
■
Unoccupied
Indicator/
warning light “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator lights Not illumi-
nated
SRS warning light Off
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light
Devices Front passenger airbag
Deactivated
Side airbag on the right side
passenger seats
Curtain shield airbag in the front passenger side Activated
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner Deactivated

104 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)■
There is a malfunction in the system
*1: The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a
smaller adult sits in the front passenger seat, the system may rec-
ognize him/her as a child depending on his/her physique and pos-
ture.
*2: In the event the front passenger does not wear a seat belt.
*3: When a large child who has outgrow n a child restraint system sits
in the front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/her as
an adult depending on his/her physique or posture.
*4: Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on the front pas- senger seat. A forward-facing ch ild restraint system should only
be installed on the front passenger seat when it is unavoidable.
(  P. 107)
*5: In case the indicator is not illumi nated, consult this manual as for
installing the child restraint system properly. ( P. 1 1 0 )
Indicator/
warning light “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator lights “AIR BAG
OFF”
SRS warning light On
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light Off
Devices Front passenger airbag
Deactivated
Side airbag on the right side
passenger seats
Curtain shield airbag in the front passenger side Activated
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner Activated

105
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
CAUTION
■
Front passenger occupant cl assification system precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding front passenger occupant clas-
sification system.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
● Wear the seat belt properly.
● Make sure the front passenger’s seat belt tab has not been left inserted
into the buckle before someone sits in the front passenger seat.
● Make sure the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights is not illuminated when
using the seat belt extender for the front passenger seat. If the “AIR BAG
OFF” indicator light is illuminated, disconnect the extender tongue from
the seat belt buckle, then reconnect the seat belt. Reconnect the seat belt
extender after making sure the “AIR BAG ON” indicator light is illuminated.
If you use the seat belt extender while the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is
illuminated, the front passenger airbag and side airbag on the front pas-
senger side may not activate correctly, which could cause death or serious
injury in the event of collision.
● Do not put weight on the front passenger seat by putting your hands or
feet on the front passenger seatback from the rear passenger seat.
● Do not let a rear passenger lift the front passenger seat with their feet or
press on the seatback with their legs.
● Do not put objects under the front passenger seat.
● Do not recline the front passenger seatback so far that it touches a rear
seat. This may cause the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light to be illuminated,
which indicates that the passenger’s airbags will not deploy in the event of
a severe accident. If the seatback touches the rear seat, return the seat-
back to a position where it does not touch the rear seat. Keep the front
passenger seatback as upright as possible when the vehicle is moving.
Reclining the seatback excessively may lessen the effectiveness of the
seat belt system.
● If an adult sits in the front passenger seat, the “AIR BAG ON” indicator
light is illuminated, If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator is illuminated, ask the
passenger to sit up straight, well back in the seat, feet on the floor, and
with the seat belt worn correctly. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator still
remain illuminated, either ask the passenger to move to the rear seat, or if
that is not possible, move the front passenger seat fully rearward.

107
1
1-8. Safety information
Before driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
Child restraint systems
Points to rememberStudies have shown that installing a child restraint on a rear seat is
much safer than installing one to the front passenger seat.
● Choose a child restraint system appropriate to the age and size of
the child.
● For installation details, follow the instructions provided with the
child restraint system.
General installation instructions are provided in this manual.
( P. 110)
Types of child restraints
Child restraint systems are classi fied into the following 3 types
according to the age and size of the child.
Infant seat
A child restraint system for a small ch ild or baby must itself be prop-
erly restrained on the seat with th e lap portion of the lap/shoulder
belt.
The laws of all 50 states of the U.S.A. and Canada now require the
use of child restraint systems.