The Sound Logic Behind the Reverse Beeping Feature

I learned to drive in a 1962 Ford Falcon station wagon with "3 on the tree", so my Prius shifts like I expect. Now if I could learn NOT to shift it back in D at every stop.

 

while it might be considered 'logical' and 'sound' to some, we didn't care for it and had it re-programed to only beep ONCE. it drove my wife crazy, as we have a really LONG driveway that she must back out of.

one beep is enough. the way I see it, if you can't pay attention enough to know what gear you're in, then you have more issues than worrying about if you're in reverse or not.

just my opinion and of course everyone has one and for each, they are all correct.

 

Could all this be said another way?; Toyota built the car's shifter and reverse beeper for the lowest common denominator - in other words, for those who shouldn't be driving to begin with since they don't know what they're doing! Jokes aside, I think it's a stretch to think Toyota used this type of assumption or thinking for the reasoning of the reverse beep.

 

I like the reverse beeper.
The Prius shifter is not a mechanical shifter, like a usual automatic or manual. It is electronic. Therefore, one loses the advantage of positive position feedback. More than once, the beeper has reminded me that I was NOT IN DRIVE.
However, I do have a beef with the seat belt beeper that becomes insistent when you get to about 12-15 MPH. That I consider to be one beeper too many.

 

I like the reverse beeper. It can be irritating, but might save you from a stupid mistake.

 

I like it as well because I normally go to d for reverse. Seems backwards to me, but then maybe its me? H

 

"The Prius shifter is not a mechanical shifter, like a usual automatic or manual. It is electronic. Therefore, one loses the advantage of positive position feedback " Teakwood

and the beep reminds you of the fact that you are in reverse, all it takes is one moment of distraction to forget that you either shifted into reverse or were in reverse, and press the gas thinking you were in drive. Its happened to me in two occasions, in which I inadvertently shifted into R and did not realize it because it was not a mechanical shifter, and the beep made realize that i was in R. And as a truck driver used to a back up alarm that is about 100 decibels, the beep of the Prius is no big deal.

 

It seems backwards to me, as well. My initial inclination was to push the knob forward to go forward and pull the knob backwards to go backwards. But it didn't take long to train myself otherwise.

Regardless, the only thing that the backup beep reminded me of was how annoying it could be. As soon as I found out I could set it to a single beep, I did so.

But if you like it, then by all means, keep it. To each their own, I say.

 

My gosh, I've done that several times since getting my new Prius this past week. I feel like an idiot. It's definitely a habit from driving a stick-shift.

 

The Prius doesn't tend to attract driving enthusiasts in the traditional sense of the word. So maybe the beeper is a good idea.

I drove a GII for three years and never put it in reverse accidentally. First thing I did was deactivate the reverse beep feature.

It seemed very intuitive to me. As far as a car with a manual transmission goes, there are lots of different positionings for reverse, and it's usually protected by a lockout or a press/pull requirement.

 

Are you saying you don't want to wear your seatbelt!?

 

I really do not object to the reverse beep, beep, beep...

My Prius is so quiet when "ready", but before the ICE kicks in that the beep is my reminder that the car is on. But then again, at my age I don't take coffee breaks because I can't afford to be re-trained!

Happy Motoring,

Tom

 

It is bass-ackwards. You are not alone. That this subject continually comes up is further proof.

 

my prius has the back up camera so when in reverse it is better than the beeper. think i look at the dash more than the road. going to get a scangauge soon so one more gadget to look at.

 

When the dealer offered to nix the beep before I left the lot, I declined.

Too many things in my life require pushing something forward to advance in that direction...standard shift Miata, throttles of Cessna 172/Cherokee 140/160, etc.

The beeper is a great idea, if somewhat irritating.

 

really? if only I had a Prius before I went and bought a smart car!

 

I go along with those who like the beep. It is a helpful reminder that the car is in reverse. I find no reason to be irritated by the beep, but then again, I am an optimist, usually.

 

Yeah, I get the logic.
I still would have preferred they put the beeper on the outside of the car, especially since company policy is to back into a parking spot or use a pull-through. If this were a personal vehicle, I would run (not walk) to the nearest Toyota dealership and demand that they disable this 'feature'.

I'm getting used to it... slooooowly.

 

:cheer2:
This sounds like the most logical answer to the beeping I have heard. I have owned many cars over my 36 years of driving, both 4 and 5 speed manual and automatics and not a one of them had a back up beep. When I was in reverse I knew it because I put it there.