TOYOTA PRIUS PHV 2012 Owners Manual

221
1-9. Safety information
1
Before driving
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
CAUTION
■
Do not use a seat belt extender
If a seat belt extender is used when installing a child restraint system, the
seat belt will not securely hold the child restraint system, which could cause
death or serious injury to the child or other passengers in the event of sud-
den braking, sudden swerving or an accident.
■ To correctly attach a child r estraint system to the anchors
When using the LATCH anchors, be sure that there are no foreign objects
around the anchors and that the seat belt is not caught behind the child
restraint system. Make sure the child restraint system is securely attached,
or it may cause death or serious injury to the child or other passengers in the
event of a sudden braking, sudden swerve or accident.

222 1-9. Safety information
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)

When driving2
223
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
2-1. Driving proceduresDriving the vehicle............ 224
Power (ignition) switch ..... 238
Hybrid transmission ......... 245
Turn signal lever .............. 254
Parking brake ................... 255
Horn ................................. 256
2-2. Instrument cluster Gauges and meters ......... 257
Indicators and warning lights .............................. 262
Multi-information display............................ 266
Head-up display ............... 285 2-3.Operating the lights and
windshi

eld wipers
Headlight switch ............... 292
Fog light switch ................ 298
Windshield wipers and washer ........................... 300
Rear window wiper and washer ........................... 304
Headlight cleaner switch ............................. 307
2-4. Using other driving systems Cruise control ................... 308
Dynamic radar cruise control ............................ 312
Driving assist systems ..... 328
Hill-start assist control ...... 333
PCS (Pre-Collision System) .......................... 335
2-5. Driving information Cargo and luggage .......... 343
Vehicle load limits ............ 348
Winter driving tips ............ 349
Trailer towing ................... 354
Dinghy towing .................. 355

224
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
2-1. Driving procedures
Driving the vehicle
The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe driv-
ing:
■ Before starting the hybrid system
Check that the charging cable is disconnected. (P. 91)
■ Starting the hybrid system
P. 238
■ Driving
With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift position to D.
( P. 245)
Check that the shift position indicator shows D. ( P. 257)
Release the parking brake. (P. 255)
Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the
accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehicle.
■ Stopping
With the shift position in D, depress the brake pedal.
If necessary, set the parking brake.
When the vehicle will be stopped for an extended period of time,
shift the shift position to P. ( P. 248)
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 1
STEP 2

225
2-1. Driving procedures
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
2
When driving
Starting off on a uphill
Firmly set the parking brake with the brake pedal depressed,
and then shift the shift position to D.
Release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator
pedal.
Release the parking brake.
■Parking the vehicle
Stop the vehicle completely.
Set the parking brake. ( P. 255)
Shift the shift position to P. ( P. 248)
Check that the shift position indicator shows P. ( P. 245)
Press the “POWER” switch to stop the hybrid system.
Slowly release the brake pedal.
Lock the door, making sure that you have the electronic key
on your person.
When parking on a hill, block the wheels as needed.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 6
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3

226 2-1. Driving procedures
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
■When starting off on a uphill
The hill-start assist control is available. ( P. 333)
■ Driving in the rain
● Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the
windows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
● Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be
especially slippery.
● Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain,
because there may be a layer of water between the tires and the road
surface, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properly.
■ Breaking in your new Toyota
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is rec-
ommended:
● For the first 200 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
● For the first 600 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.

227
2-1. Driving procedures
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
2
When driving
■
Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability
of the correct fuel. ( P. 613)
■ For efficient use
● Shift the shift position to D when driving.
In the N position, the gasoline engine operates but electricity cannot be
generated. The hybrid battery (traction battery) will discharge, requiring
unnecessary engine power to charge.
● Drive your vehicle smoothly.
Avoid abrupt acceleration and deceleration. Gradual acceleration and
deceleration will make more effective use of the electric motor (traction
motor) without having to use gasoline engine power.
● Avoid repeated acceleration.
Repeated acceleration consumes hybrid battery (traction battery) power,
resulting in poor acceleration. Battery power can be restored by driving
with the accelerator pedal slightly released.
● Shift the shift position to P when parking.
In the N position, the hybrid battery (traction battery) does not charge.
Leaving the shift position in the N position for an extended period of time
may discharge the hybrid battery (traction battery). The vehicle cannot
run if the hybrid battery (traction battery) is discharged.

228 2-1. Driving procedures
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
CAUTION
■When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the hybrid sys-
tem operating. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.
■ When driving the vehicle
● Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accel-
erator pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake
pedal will result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident
that could result in death or serious injury.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a diffi- culty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the vehicle only slightly. This allows you to depress the brake and acceler-
ator pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, result-
ing in an accident.
● Because there is no engine noise when the vehicle is being driven using
the electric motor, pedestrians in the vicinity may not notice the vehicle.
Even though the vehicle is equipped with the vehicle proximity notification
system, drive with care as pedestrians in the vicinity may still not notice
the vehicle if the surrounding area is noisy.
● Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. These hot
parts may cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.
● Do not let the vehicle roll backward while a forward driving position is\
selected, or roll forward while the shift position is in R.
Doing so may result in an accident or damage to the vehicle.

229
2-1. Driving procedures
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
2
When driving
CAUTION
●
If the smell of exhaust is noticed inside the vehicle, open the windows and
check that the back door is closed. Large amounts of exhaust in the vehi-
cle can cause driver drowsiness and an accident, resulting in death or a
serious health hazard. Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
● Do not shift the shift position to P while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle\
control.
● Do not shift the shift position to R while the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle\
control.
● Do not shift the shift position to D while the vehicle is moving backward.
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle\
control.
● Moving the shift position to N while the vehicle is moving will disengage
the hybrid system. Engine braking is not available with the hybrid system
disengaged.
● During normal driving, do not turn off the hybrid system. Turning the hybrid
system off while driving will not cause loss of steering or braking control,
but the power assist to these systems will be lost. This will make it more
difficult to steer and brake, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so.
However, in the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible
to stop the vehicle in the normal way: P. 607
● 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. 245)

230 2-1. Driving procedures
PRIUS PHV_OM_OM47818U_(U)
CAUTION
●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 that can cause accidents,
resulting in death or serious injury.
● Always check that all passengers’ arms, heads or other parts of their body
are not outside the vehicle, as this may result in death or serious injury.
● Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit per-
mits it, do not drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) unless your vehicle has high-
speed capability tires. Driving over 85 mph (140 km/h) may result in tire
failure, loss of control and possible injury. Be sure to consult a tire dealer
to determine whether the tires on your vehicle are high-speed capability
tires or not before driving at such speeds.
■ When driving on slippery road surfaces
● Sudden braking, acceleration and steering may cause tire slippage and
reduce your ability to control the vehicle, resulting in an accident.
● Sudden acceleration, engine braking due to shift changing, 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, resulting in
an accident.