Make Prius more visible at night

You could use some refractive light tape attached to the body; sort of red and white diagonally printed tape.
Placement could be a large strip on the roof, on the rear hatch door, etc.
You could be very creative with this tape

 

Operating, or parked? From what direction(s)?

One of the things I liked about my last Ford was plenty of reflector area on the back. Parked on the roadside on a dark and stormy night, the reflectors were quite visible. Every car since came with minimal reflector area, e.g. a 2"x2" patch on each taillight (more on the current Prius), so I have added more adhesive reflectors. The oval plastic blocks haven't lasted long enough, and the remnant adhesive foam (sans reflector) is ugly. Flexible tape has lasted much better.

I usually have one small reflective set low, on the back of mudflaps, or on the black trim below the bumper of the current Prius.

2"x4" white reflective patches are on the hatch lower glass, outboard where molding and trim doesn't allow any view outside anyway.

Though not on this car, I also added a half-inch strip of reflective tape to the inside molding across the top full width of the hatch window of others, to catch the attention of any tailgating high beams. This should remain nearly invisible to properly aimed low beams.

Someone here removed the Hybrid badge on the front quarter panels, replacing them (the badges left a mounting hole) with side turn signals. You could do this too, making them a running light / turn signal combo.

Does the car have a hitch receiver? If so, consider adding an illuminated plug or cover as an additional taillight.

 

That tape helps during operation too, though not as much as additional lights.

 

A lot of images of cars with reflective tape applied:

Reflective tape

 

^^ most of those vastly exceed anything I would put on my cars.

 

I did this on my wife's Tahoe amazon.com/Bully-CR-007A-Tail-Brake-Light/dp/B0000AY2BR

This seems like what you hope for amazon.com/dp/B01MSTFHOK

 

I use these brake lights on my motorcycles - I'll likely use them with the Prius too. They're fantastic and definitely attention grabbing.

Hyperlites Flashing LED Motorcycle brake lights, Running Lights and Turn Signal

 

Agreed, but they are "visible".

 

Just be aware that most jurisdictions make installing red or blue exterior lighting illegal on non-emergency/LEO vehicles.

 

I think red on rear is Ok, front isn't, especially if they're flashing.

 

It will vary by Locality, in Georgia this is a the law:
GA State Law on LED Scanners, Strobes, Halo's, and Side markers. - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums - Camaro5.com

 

Reflective tape.

 

What about putting flashing or non flashing lights on the license plate? I've seen many construction vehicles with white/amber combos.



Something like this. Should be easily removable before selling the car too. The rear brake lights that blink instead of a steady glow are, IMHO, more annoying and distracting than helpful.

 

amazon.com/Redline-Flexible-LED-Tailgate-Light/dp/B01INY7F1G
Is a 48 " flexible LED tail light, looks like it hooks to a trailer light port.
CURT® - Towing Wiring Harness
Like this one

 

I seem to remember a PriusChat thread years ago, where somebody applied a lot of reflective tape to their Prius, making it almost a illuminated outline of itself at night.
Probably NOT what the OP wants to do.

I actually kind of wonder what the statistics would be on night time crashes and vehicles different colors.
I've never worried about it.

I've had 3 black vehicles in my lifetime. I'm driving one now.
My thinking is "IF" and that is a big IF...they are at all arguably less visible at night..they are potentially more visible in the day. Black stands out against brightness and glare.

And at night? I've never really worried either. That's what headlights and taillights, and brake lights are for. Plus you assume approaching vehicles have headlights and they will illuminate your presence.

Firetrucks are traditionally still Red.

If I was REALLY concerned about promoting visibility, I suppose you just are limited to either "reflection" or "illumination" or some combination of the two.
That would mean either attaching reflectors, reflective tape, or adding actual lighting.

None of which I personally would bother to do, because I think the whole premise of the visibility of a Red Prius being a problem....invalid.

But of course, I did not make a Faustian Bargain with a spouse.

Have you considered having the vehicle painted.....say......in a Blizzard Pearl?