It is not legal to have no lights on during night time either, but that doesn't automatically make the headlights turn on on many car models, probably most, including everything I have ever driven. Checking the owners manual (p250-255 for the 2012 Liftback), it is clear that you are confusing DRLs with the automatic headlight system installed on some, but not all, of the models covered by the manual. Mine is not so equipped. I see numerous other models of cars on the road with DRLs that don't automatically turn on the legal lights at night. And because those cars usually have DRLs made from real headlights with real headlight patterns on the road, merely reduced intensity, the hints to the clueless drivers are much weaker. At least these Prius DRLs put almost no light on the pavement, so the driver cannot claim confusion.
My 2002 Camry SE had depowered highbeam DRL and no auto headlight. Good thing the analog gauges are not readable after dark, and the depowered highbeams do not put any useful light on the ground. I only needed to be warned twice to flip that switch.
I consulted the owners manual and found out that there are three type of headlights control. Type A = Automatic means DRL will switch to nighttime headlight. Can turn DRL off. Type B, C = Automatic means DRL will switch to nighttime headlight. Cannot turn DRL off. As others suggested, keep it in automatic.
There are several places in the pages that say '(if equipped)' associated with the automatic headlights. Mine is not so equipped. In fact, my light switch doesn't say 'Auto' anywhere, and doesn't match the illustrations for Type A, Type B, nor Type C. No pictures tonight, but later I can provide pics showing the actual light switch stalk, and showing the DRLs on at night. I've seen it many times, both when parking at night (as I turn the switch from ON to DRL to prepare for the next day), and when starting up at night. Are still pictures OK, or do you need video?
On my Four I leave the headlamp switch on DRL and my headlamps & marker lights come on in my garage and go off once I back out of my garage. All Prius should have auto lights for safety. Suppose it will be standard in future generations. Mike Mobile on my SGH-i717
Doesn't that leave black rubber streaks on your windshield when it is not raining? ;-) Mike Mobile on my SGH-i717
Doesn't that assume it quits raining sometime? Average High/Low Temperatures for KAST | Weather Underground Notice it rains on every average day except between July 15 and August 15.
Here is that picture : To repeat, it doesn't say Auto or Automatic anywhere, and it doesn't match any of the Type A/B/C illustrations in the owners manual. Mine doesn't do that, so I must manually turn from DRL to headlights on in order to use a mark on the wall (originally placed for my 2010 Prius) to pull the car in the correct minimum distance to clear the garage door. (This headlight mark method is much more consistent and repeatable than my 'eyeball' judgements with previous cars.) Then switch back to DRL position to set up for the next day. Reviewing the Toyota's 2012 Prius brochure, I see that the Two and Three are listed with just the 'auto-off' headlight feature. Only the Four and Five have 'auto on/off'.
Our 2011 Prius 3 doesn't even have the DRL position. My 2010 Camry SE has an Auto position where your DRL position is. During daylight, bright conditions, the auto feature will turn on the highbeam reduced power DRLs. When the light sensor senses low light, the DRLs go off, and the lowbeam headlights come on. It seems that the 2012+ higher models of the Prius gets this Auto position that controls the LED DRLs using the dash mounted light sensor the same way my Camry does, switching between DRL and lowbeam headlights based on light received by the dashboard light sensor.
Wonder if that is what mine says too? I haven't driven mine in a while ;-) Mike Mobile on my SGH-i717
I have a Gen II but I'd assume the Gen III also dims the instruments when the headlights are on. I find it very irritating driving at night with the instruments on full light. Because the headlights turn off when I open the door I just leave the lights on all the time, day and night. The additional fuel consumption is something like half a litre a year, I can wear that. I've replaces 3 headlight globes since 2006, so that isn't an issue. Headlights on rain, hail or shine.
What bothers me is that the indicator light is a different color than the rest of the display. But I guess that makes it stand out more, doesn't it?
The FYI indicators are green, headlights, fog lights, cruise set, etc. The warning indicators are yellow, TPMS, ABS, TRAC. The Oh Crap indicators are red, O/T, brake failure, airbags.
What I meant was it's green, but it still differs enough from the regular display that it bothers me.
