Your sides and back are covered by this safety feature.
A variety of active safety systems, including forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane keeping, lane-departure alert, and automatic high beams, are almost standard equipment on all new vehicles. However, one of the most popular driver aids, blind-spot monitoring, is frequently priced extra by automakers. What is it then? And is the extra expense justified? Find out by reading on.
What does Blind-Spot Monitoring entail?
Although you may be an expert at adjusting your side-view mirrors to show your car’s blind zones, it doesn’t follow that you’ll always pay attention to them when lane-changing.
Blind-spot monitoring systems are designed to address this issue by alerting you to the presence of someone in the obscure area directly behind your shoulder using obtrusive means, such as turning on a light near the side mirror. You are being cautioned not to perform a lane change at that precise moment as an added level of security.
Such systems are frequently “on” by default, which means you don’t need to activate them after each ignition cycle by pressing a button or choosing a setting. If you find blind-spot monitoring unpleasant, you may typically choose to disable it.
What Is the Process of Blind-Spot Monitoring?
Blind-spot monitoring systems scan the regions next to and directly behind your car using side- and rear-mounted ultrasonic or radar sensors. Some (on specific pickups and full-size SUVs) are even technologically advanced enough to keep an eye on both your vehicle’s and an attached trailer’s sides.
These sensors will activate a light in the driver’s line of sight to warn them that there is an object (typically another vehicle) lurking in that space and that it is unsafe to move over. To make sure they are aware of the danger in the next lane, the system will beep and flash the blind-spot warning light if the motorist activates their turn signal in the direction of the identified object.
How Effective Are Blind-Spot Monitoring Systems in Avoiding Collisions?
Simply said, absolutely. According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, cars with blind-spot monitoring systems had a 14% lower risk of being in a lane-change accident than those without one. Additionally, blind-spot monitoring reduces injury-causing lane-change crashes by 23%.
Should You Spend Money on Blind-Spot Monitoring?
Depending on the type of vehicle you want, you might not have to. For example, it comes as standard equipment in every minivan available. The same is true for the majority of Hyundai models and many higher trim levels of sedans, trucks, and SUVs.
A blind-spot monitoring system, however, can cost as low as a few hundred dollars or as much as two thousand dollars in situations where it is optional. Customers of the subcompact crossover Chevrolet Trax in 2024, for instance, can add this technology to any trim level for just $395.
Toyota, on the other hand, offers it as standard equipment on its famous Camry sedan and RAV4 compact crossover but charges an additional $680 for it on base models. Furthermore, Toyota charges more for blind-spot monitoring on the brand’s less costly models: For example, the entry-level Corolla can have it for $1,340.
However, that is still less than what Honda asks. Customers of the base model can’t even obtain the technology on some of its most popular vehicles, like the Accord and CR-V. They must upgrade, which raises the price by at least $2,010 for the Accord and $2,510 for the CR-V.
Is blind-spot monitoring really worth all that money? Most likely, not only because it’s a useful safety feature, but also because used-auto purchasers seek it when they’re looking for a car.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: What is blind spot monitoring (BSM)?
A: Blind spot monitoring is a safety feature that uses sensors to detect vehicles in your blind spots. These sensors are typically located in the side mirrors or rear bumpers, and they send an alert to the driver if a vehicle is detected in a blind spot. The alert can be visual, audible, or both.
Q: What are the benefits of blind spot monitoring?
A: Blind spot monitoring can help to reduce the risk of lane change collisions. It can also help to improve driver confidence and awareness.
Q: Do I need blind spot monitoring?
A: Blind spot monitoring is not required by law, but it is a valuable safety feature. It is especially beneficial for drivers who frequently change lanes, such as highway drivers and truck drivers.
Q: How does blind spot monitoring work?
A: Blind spot monitoring systems use sensors to detect vehicles in your blind spots. These sensors can be either ultrasonic or radar. Ultrasonic sensors emit sound waves and then listen for the reflected waves. Radar sensors emit radar waves and then listen for the reflected waves.
When the sensors detect a vehicle in your blind spot, they send an alert to the driver. The alert can be visual, audible, or both. Visual alerts typically involve a light that illuminates in the side mirror or on the dashboard. Audible alerts typically involve a beeping sound.
Q: What are the different types of blind spot monitoring systems?
A: There are two main types of blind spot monitoring systems: passive and active.
Passive blind spot monitoring systems only alert the driver to the presence of a vehicle in the blind spot. Active blind spot monitoring systems can also steer the vehicle back into its lane to avoid a collision.
Q: How much does blind spot monitoring cost?
A: The cost of blind spot monitoring varies depending on the make and model of the vehicle. However, it is typically an affordable option, and it is often included as standard equipment on new vehicles.
Q: Should I get blind spot monitoring?
A: Blind spot monitoring is a valuable safety feature that can help to reduce the risk of lane change collisions. It is especially beneficial for drivers who frequently change lanes, such as highway drivers and truck drivers.
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