As technology progresses, vehicle manufacturers continue to develop advancements that make driving more comfortable, accessible, and safe. Blind-spot monitors, an increasingly popular safety feature, help drivers keep track of blind spots and avoid accidents – even when they’re not looking.
If you’re considering buying a new car, understanding the benefits and drawbacks of blind-spot monitors can help you make an informed purchasing decision and end up with the right vehicle for your needs.
How Do Blind-Spot Monitors Work?
Blind spots are areas around a vehicle that a driver either cannot see at all (such as at the very front and back of a car) or cannot see without purposefully adjusting their range of vision (such as behind or beside the “pillars” surrounding the car windows). Thus, when driving normally, the driver is “blind” to these areas.
Blind-spot monitors use ultrasonic sensors located on a car’s flanks to warn drivers when another vehicle is in their blind spot. Most blind-spot monitors use an audible alarm, accompanied by a visual indicator on the side-view mirrors, to alert drivers.
Are There Different Types of Blind-Spot Monitoring Systems?
Yes. Most blind-spot warning systems simply use audio and/or visual cues to warn drivers. However, some blind-spot warning systems also come coupled with automatic emergency steering. This type of blind-spot monitoring system will automatically manipulate the steering wheel if the driver fails to react in time.
For example, if the monitoring system detects a car in the driver’s blind spot, alerts them, and the driver moves to switch lanes anyways, the steering wheel may automatically correct to ensure the driver stays in their lane until the other car moves away.
Is Blind-Spot Monitoring Worth It?
It depends! Whether a blind-spot monitoring system is “right” for you largely depends on your finances, the vehicle make and model you’re interested in, the type of driving you do, and the kind of blind-spot monitoring system you want.
Blind-spot monitoring systems are not a replacement for physically checking your blind spot before switching lanes or making a turn. However, they can make driving less stressful, give drivers peace of mind, and even save lives. Let’s look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of blind-spot monitoring systems.
Blind-Spot Monitors: The Pros
Blind-spot monitoring systems do have a lot going for them. Firstly, and probably most importantly, blind-spot monitoring makes cars safer. The Insurance Institue for Highway Safety (IIHS) conservatively estimated that blind-spot monitoring systems could prevent 14% of lane-change accidents altogether and reduce injury crashes by 23%. A simplified analysis of lane departure warning systems indicated they could reduce lane-change accident fatalities by up to 86%.
Spring-boarding off of that point, blind-spot monitoring makes driving less stressful. Around 10% of all car accidents are lane-change accidents. According to a 2016 IIHS study, lane departure warning and blind-spot monitoring systems could have prevented 85,000 police-reported crashes and 55,000 injuries in 2015 alone. Blind-spot monitoring can give drivers much-needed peace of mind, knowing they’re safer whenever they get behind the wheel.
Lastly, blind-spot monitors can actually reduce physical fatigue by limiting how often you turn your head while driving. While you should always physically check your blind spot before switching lanes or turning, blind-spot monitoring can help reduce how often you turn in your seat. For people with limited neck mobility or arthritis, that can make a big difference!
Blind-Spot Monitors: The Cons
However, that’s not to say there aren’t disadvantages to blind-spot warning systems either. Most concerningly, drivers sometimes become more reckless if their car has safety features. This typically occurs when drivers rely on their vehicle to compensate for their lack of safe driving. Drivers need to maintain proper awareness and take safety measures while driving, regardless of their vehicle’s safety systems.
There’s also a cost barrier associated with blind-spot monitors. Whether you want to install them on your car aftermarket or as an add-on, a decent blind-spot monitoring system can easily cost $500 or more – and that’s before factoring in installation fees.
Lastly, blind-spot monitors aren’t the be-all, end-all of ending lane-change accidents. Most don’t activate until the car is moving at a certain speed, and have a limited range. Even safe drivers need to know the limitations of their blind-spot monitoring system to take advantage of it.
Hopefully, this blog has made it easier to decide whether blind-spot monitors are right for you and your car. Stay tuned for car-care tips and tricks, vehicle technology rundowns, and everything Carvana.
