Normally I don’t give a crap about blind spot monitoring. But last night, I was in the middle lane going like 70. The person in front of me was going like 60. There was NO ONE else on the road. So I checked all around behind me, saw nothing, and went into the left lane. Just as I was about to, the blind spot detection kicked off. Some motherfucker was going down the left lane in a black car with no headlights on. I got in behind him and flashed my high beams at him. He moved over and kept driving with no headlights. Idiot!!
Radar based blind spot is the most useful safety assist feature, though I abhor those camera based systems cause they don’t do well in inclement weather and low light and this is a perfect example why camera based systems and mirrors alone might not always work.
Yeah I know right. A camera based system would’ve picked up fuck all cause this idiot coming up on me had no headlights and was pitch black.
I know people like to complain about stuff like this - “I know how to drive, I don’t need it, it’s for dumb idiots that can’t drive” - but it can be an asset. Whether it’s some other driver acting unexpectedly or simply a mistake (which we all make), these systems, when used as an addition to appropriate driving behaviors, can save lives.
I’ve had many exchanges in the past week about people who are oh so adamant that blind spot monitoring is useless and only for morons who don’t know how to set up their mirrors and adds expense to cars and actually makes drivers worse and all they need is a pair of eyes and their mirrors and blind spot monitoring shot their dog and set fire to their house. Thank you for providing a real-world counterpoint to all the people who would rather everyone else be less safe just so they in their small minority can get what they want.
I had a similar situation with my auto braking system. I had a green light and was going into an intersection at 30mph but suddenly the car slammed on the brakes and it freaked me out but immediately after I realized there was a small car with no lights making a right on red.
I don’t understand why people don’t care about blind spot monitoring.
I dislike intrusive tech as much as anyone but blind spot monitoring is a passive system, it just blinks a light at you in the mirror.
Its not doing anyone a disservice or ruining the driving experience and now you have some extra safety if there is someone going like 20+ faster than you in the left lane with no lights on when you want to lane change.
Personally I believe the blind spot monitors show their true potential during heavy traffic, when trying to merge into a highway and then cross a lane or two quickly. It can be very stressful to look behind you constantly to check your blind spot. And in the worst case scenario, you can end up so preoccupied checking your blind spot that you end up rear ending someone that suddenly stopped or budged in front of you (because keeping your distance from the car ahead of you means they can barge in). With the monitors, a quick glance at the glowing indication on the mirror is all you need. If it’s on, you can’t switch lanes and you can continue paying attention in front of you. If it’s off, confirm with your own eyes and switch lanes. Easy. Probably one of the most useful assistance tools on my car, along with the rear cross traffic alert to warn me when a car is ignoring my very bright reverse lights and try’s to squeeze through despite me… backing out.