This is plain stupid...

I really like that feature. Sometimes I turn off the dashboard and the nav screen. No instruments to distract from driving. Besides the speed there is no real need to be watching the display all the time. It is easy to control the speed just by going with the flow of traffic. "Use the force Luke..."

 

Might be a useful feature at the drive in movie theater. Do they still have those?

 

I have a hard time finding that control when I want to, how did you manage to turn it all the way down by accident?

Anyway, I think now that you know where it is you won't have the same problem again. I honestly think every car I have ever owned, and that's quite a few, have had a way to turn the dash lights completely off.

 

its easier to control speed with CC. using the stalk to adjusts bumps it a mile per hour

 

Perfect for stealth mode!

 

Wow. I have never had a car do that to me. I like the fact that I can turn off the display in my '05 and sometimes I do. Also, once you know where it is you will be able to find it without looking for it.

 

I had that happen to me. I don't understand it at all. I actually wrote Toyota about that. It seems to me that it might even be illegal to do that as you would be driving without a speedometer and I would guess some if not all states would never let you pass inspection without one.

Toyota responded with a "thats the way it is" email. I still wonder how they got the car street certified that way.

 

How about when you're stalking someone and are parked outside their house? The ability to turn off the lights inside your Prius would help out in these situations.

 

How true. Never thought of that.

 

I guess you could file a complaint with the NHTSA telling them you can't find your dimmer knob, maybe they would have some suggestions.

 

I thought that was the only reason we bought the Prius?

 

My vote is don't complain too much about this, as I would rather have the option of turning it off. I think once you know about it, it absolutely is not a problem. Adjust it, and don't touch it. No Problem.

 

Maybe the feature is for blind drivers driving at night so their passengers can sleep without the speedo glow disturbing them. Or maybe sleepy drivers?

I could have used that actually, and I'm serious. On a long drive that goes through the night I will sometimes lay the drivers seat back for a sleep, for maybe 20 minutes maybe a couple of hours, I don't set an alarm. This would allow my to leave my Prius running for air-conditioning in summer or heating in winter without the glow of the dash keeping me from sleeping. In the past I have used a dark coloured towel to cover the dash.

 

Think it sounds a great idea. Turn all the interior lights off and just use the HUD for your speed. Great idea. I'll try it out at the next opportunity. I wonder if it turns off that annoying gear lever light?

 

Well, guys how is it different than any other car where you can turn the dash lights all the way down? Even if it has a normal gauge, you still can't see it in the dark...

My Lexus has optitron gauges behind tinted lenses that go completely black when they are turned off, even in the daylight. They can be turned totally off too. Whats the problem with being able to turn them off? Just don't turn them off...

 

Really? This is an issue with you?

Many cars, and especially most/all European made cars have had this feature for decades. Studies have shown that reducing, or elliminating the back-lighting coming from the dash helps the driver focus/concentrate at night. This is a safety feature.