Tail Light Switch problems of the 2009 Toyota Prius

Headligh and tail lights failed to work at start up, after a while the highbeams did work so car could be driving home. Later that evening everything worked fine at startup.

I have noticed for some time now allot of Toyota Prius cars driving in dark conditions with no headlights on. The tail lights are on but no headlights. This would suggest to me that there is a manual headlight switch or else different parameters for the head and tail lights. As for the reason, I believe to conserve power on the electric batteries. If the driver is in control of the headlights this control should be taken away. It is rare in this day and age for a manual headlamp switch even on the most basic cars, so I believe Toyota was fully aware of what they were doing and what the drivers were likely to do. But yet Toyota made sure they were legally covered with the tail lights. After all if the driver hits a car or pedestrian its the drivers fault but if Toyota Prius cars suddenly start getting rear ended, its Toyota's fault. If the headlamp is not in control of the driver why the difference in timing when they come on? I would suggest again to conserve power and make their cars go farther on electric power at the expense of public safety. I am writing this primarily from a pedestrian point of view because I am a runner and have had a couple of semi close calls because of the headlight issue and one closer call because they are so quiet.