Safe places on dash to put decorations?

Not a good idea in CA.

It is against the California Vehicle Code to have any object, especially a moving toy, on the dashboard where is could obstruct your view or divert your attention from the road.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those people who thinks everything has to be maximum safe all the time. But I believe the "safety experts" may be right on this one. Those kinds of things (bobble heads etc.) can turn into missiles if you have a wreck. We don't want to lose any priuschat members, please reconsider.

BTW congratulations on getting your Prius, I've had mine a bit over two months now and am still like a kid with a new toy.

 

Well, the driver's airbag is in the steering wheel. The passenger's is that flat area in front of the top glove box.

 

I agree 100%. The moving object can be an issue. :blink: I bought a used NAV (Magellan 700) which mounts with a suction cup to the windshield. The standard mounting "arm" is an adjustable flex type and it allows the unit to move around. It's very distracting. Recently I bought a rigid mount and located the NAV on the left side next to the side window. Lots better now.

 

I have a small stuffed turtle hand puppet on the driver's side of the dash, up by the tiny little triangular window. It's small, weighs practically nothing, and doesn't obstruct vision. I have a carpeted dash cover which prevents it from sliding off.

The only place you can't safely put stuff on the dash is on the passenger side. The airbag pops out at the seam between the glove box door and the upper portion of the dash, and anything on the upper part could become a projectile. The airbag for the driver comes out of the steering wheel, so the driver side of the dash is ok for small things. Go for it.

You can use one of the cup holders in the console for flowers, too. In the photo album are a few pictures of the interior of my Prius.

Bob

 

i have a little bunny stuck in the dash. if you find something small enough it wont go anywhere

 

<_< Owner's Manual - Section 2-2 "Operation of Instruments and Controls" - pages 70-78 contain information regarding the airbags on the Prius inclusive of extensive diagrams and numerous warnings.

Lots of helpful information in your Owner's Manual.

 

Stupid question: Where is that photo album located?

 

I saw the episode, and it seems that, while an empty kleenex box just doesn't have enough mass to crack a skull, something as seemingly harmless as, say, a Harry Potter book could be rather injurious if it manages to dodge the headrest.

Of course, that was testing for an effective front-end collision, where objects in the car would suddenly fly forward (relative to the abruptly stationary car).

Objects on the dash are only harmful if your car is severely and suddenly accelerated, as form a rear-end collision, or if they are 'launched' by a deploying airbag.

That said, I would be inclined to discommend having anything on the dashboard; I once had a small plush critter roll down to the floor after the adhesive was nullified by heat, and somehow manage to wedge itself under the brake pedal. Not fun, but thanks to the clutch and the handbrake (obviously, this was not in my Prius), I managed to safely stop once I noticed the resistence from the footbrake.