belt TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 3.G User Guide

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1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Before driving
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
Seat belts
Make sure that all occupants are wearing their seat belts before driv-
ing the vehicle.
■Correct use of the seat belts
Extend the shoulder belt so
that it comes fully over the
shoulder, but does not
come into contact with the
neck or slide off the shoul-
der.
Position the lap belt as low
as possible over the hips.
Adjust the position of the
seatback. Sit up straight
and well back in the seat.
Do not twist the seat belt.
■ Fastening and releasing the seat belt
Fastening the belt
Push the tab into the buckle
until a clicking sound is heard.
Releasing the belt
Press the release button.
Release 
button

86 1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
Seat belt pretensioners (front seats)
The pretensioner helps the seat
belt to quickly restrain the occu-
pant by retracting the seat belt
when the vehicle is subjected to
certain types of severe frontal
collision.
The pretensioner may not acti-
vate in the event of a minor frontal
impact, a side impact or a rear
impact.
Pre-collision seat belts (front seats of vehicles with pre-collision
system)If the pre-collision sens or detects that a collision is unavoidable, the
pre-collision system will retract the seat be lt, thus enhancing the
effectiveness of the seat be lt pretensioner in a crash.
The same will happen if the driver makes an emergency braking or loses
control of the vehicle. (P. 249)
■Adjusting the height of the belt (front seats)
Down
Up
Move the height adjuster up
and down as needed until you
hear a click.

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1-4. Adjustable components (s
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Before driving
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
■Emergency locking retractor (ELR)
The retractor will lock the belt during a sudden stop or on impact. It may also
lock if you lean forward too quickly. A slow, easy motion will allow the belt to
extend so that you can move around fully.
■ Automatic locking retractor (ALR)
When a passenger’s shoulder belt is completely extended and then
retracted even slightly, the belt is locked in that position and cannot be
extended. This feature is used to hold the child restraint system (CRS) firmly.
To free the belt again, fully retract the belt and then pull the belt out once
more. ( P. 137)
■ Pregnant women
Obtain medical advice and wear the seat
belt in the proper way. ( P. 85)
Women who are pregnant should position
the lap belt as low as possible over the
hips in the same manner as other occu-
pants. Extend the shoulder belt com-
pletely over the shoulder and position the
belt across the chest. Avoid belt contact
over the rounding of the abdominal area.
If the seat belt is not worn properly, not
only a pregnant woman, but also the fetus
could suffer death or serious injury as a
result of sudden braking or a collision.

88 1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
■People suffering illness
Obtain medical advice and wear the seat belt in the proper way.
■ Child seat belt usage
The seat belts of your vehicle were principally designed for persons of adult
size.
● Use a child restraint system appropriately for the child, until the child
becomes large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat belt. ( P. 132)
● When the child becomes large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s
seat belt, follow the instructions on P. 85 regarding seat belt usage.
■ Replacing the belt after the pretensioner has been activated
If the vehicle is involved in multiple collisions, the pretensioner will activate
for the first collision, but will not activate for the second or subsequent colli-
sions.
■ Seat belt extender
If your seat belts cannot be fastened
securely because they are not long
enough, a personalized seat belt
extender is available from your Toyota
dealer free of charge.

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1-4. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
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Before driving
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of injury in the event of
sudden braking, sudden swerving or an accident. 
Failing to do so may cause death or serious injury.
■ Wearing a seat belt
● Ensure that all passengers wear a seat belt.
● Always wear a seat belt properly.
● Each seat belt should be used by one person only. Do not use a seat belt
for more than one person at the same time, including children.
● Toyota recommends that children should be seated in the rear seat and
always use a seat belt and/or an appropriate child restraint system.
● Do not recline the seat any more than necessary to achieve a proper seat-
ing position. The seat belt is most effective when the occupants are sitting
up straight and well back in the seats.
● Do not wear the shoulder belt under your arm.
● Always wear your seat belt low and snug across your hips.
■ Child restraint lock function belt precaution
Do not allow children to play with the child restraint lock function belt. If the
belt becomes twisted around a child’s neck, it will not be possible to pull the
belt out leading to choking or other serious injuries that could result in death.
If this occurs and the buckle cannot be unfastened, scissors should be used
to cut the belt.
■ Seat belt damage and wear
● Do not damage the seat belts by allowing the belt, plate or buckle to be
jammed in the door.
● Inspect the seat belt system periodically. Check for cuts, fraying, and loose
parts. Do not use a damaged seat belt until it is replaced. Damaged seat
belts cannot protect an occupant from death or serious injury.

90 1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
CAUTION
■Seat belt damage and wear
● Ensure that the belt and tab are locked and the belt is not twisted. If the
seat belt does not function correctly, immediately contact your Toyota
dealer.
● Replace the seat assembly, including the belts, if your vehicle has been
involved in a serious accident, even if there is no obvious damage.
● Do not attempt to install, remove, modify, disassemble or dispose of a seat
belt. Have any necessary repairs carried out by your Toyota dealer. Inap-
propriate handling of the pretensioner may cause it to activate or operate
improperly and may cause death or serious injury.
■ Adjustable shoulder anchor
Always make sure the shoulder belt is positioned across the center of your
shoulder. The belt should be kept away from your neck, but not falling off
your shoulder. Failure to do so could reduce the amount of protection in an
accident and cause death or serious injuries in the event of a sudden stop,
sudden swerve or accident. ( P. 86)
■ Seat belt pretensioners
● Do not place anything, such as a cushion, on the front passenger’s seat.
Doing so will disperse the passenger’s weight, which prevents the sensor
from detecting the passenger’s weight properly. As a result, the seat belt
pretensioner for the front passenger’s seat may not activate in the event of
a collision.
● If the pretensioner has activated, the SRS warning light will come on. In
that case, the seat belt cannot be used again and must be replaced at
your Toyota dealer.

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1-4. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
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Before driving
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
CAUTION
■Using a seat belt extender
● Do not wear the seat belt extender, if you can fasten the seat belt without
the extender.
● Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a child restraint system,
because the belt will not securely hold the child restraint system, increas-
ing the risk of death or serious injury in the event of a sudden stop, sudden
swerve or an accident.
● The personalized extender may not be safe on another vehicle, when
used by another person, or at a different seating position other than the
one originally intended.
■ Precaution for pre-collision seat belts (if equipped)
Do not rely on the pre-collision system to avoid accidents. Always pay atten-
tion to the surrounding conditions, and drive safely and responsibly.
NOTICE
■When using a seat belt extender
When releasing the seat belt, press on the buckle release button on the
extender, not on the seat belt. 
This helps prevent damage to the vehicle interior and the extender itself.

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Before driving
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
1-8. Safety information
Correct driving posture
Drive with a good posture as follows:
Sit upright and well back in
the seat.
Adjust the position of the
seat forward or backward to
ensure the pedals can be
reached and easily
depressed to the extent
required. (P. 78)
Adjust the seatback so that
the controls are easily oper-
able.
Adjust the tilt and telescopic
positions of the steering
wheel downward so the air-
bag is facing your chest.
(  P. 92)
Lock the head restraint in
place with the center of the
head restraint closest to the
top of your ears. ( P. 82)
Wear the seat belt correctly.
(  P. 85)

112 1-8. Safety information
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
CAUTION
■While driving
● Do not adjust the position of the driver’s seat. 
Doing so could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
● Do not place a cushion between the driver or passenger and the seatback. 
A cushion may prevent correct posture from being achieved, and reduce
the effectiveness of the seat belt and head restraint, increasing the risk of
death or serious injury to the driver or passenger.
● Do not place anything under the front seats. 
Objects placed under the front seats may become jammed in the seat
tracks and stop the seat from locking in place. This may lead to an acci-
dent. The adjustment mechanism may also be damaged.
■ Adjusting the seat position
● Do not recline the seat more than necessary when the vehicle is in motion,
to reduce the risk of sliding under the lap belt. 
If the seat is too reclined during an accident, the lap belt may slide part the
hips and apply restraint forces directly to the abdomen or your neck may
contact the shoulder belt, increasing the risk of death or serious injury.
● Take care when adjusting the seat position to ensure that other passen-
gers are not injured by the moving seat.
● Do not put your hands under the seat or near the moving parts to avoid
injury. 
Fingers or hands may become jammed in the seat mechanism.

113
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1-8. Safety information
Before driving
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
SRS airbags
The SRS airbags inflate when the vehicle is subjected to certain
types of severe impacts that may cause significant injury to the
occupants. They work together with the seat belts to help reduce the
risk of death or serious injury.
Front airbags
Driver airbag/front passenger airbag 
Can help protect the head and ches t of the driver and front pas-
senger from impact with interior components.
Knee airbag 
Can help provide driver protection.