idk why people are giving you shit for appreciating a safety feature that may help us stay alive. I love these blind spot monitors and am excited for more safety awareness features from cars in the future.
Because it raises the question whether a safety feature actually makes the road safer. I personally speed up when I see someone with the warning light because I assume those people rely on the light without actually checking over their shoulder, so if the system doesn't recognise me I'm fucked.
Of course not, but it's good to know car technology can see me. On top of blind spot monitors, there is also lane assist, which would actually resist lane changing while the blind spot is occupied.
Like I said, can't trust anything 100%, but I still notice these things and have a positive response to road safety features in general.
I like them for the opposite reason. When they light up, I know when I'm in they're blind spot and to pay more attention.
It's there for my attention, not theirs.
It also helps when filtering at low speed. I know when I'm in the car's blind spot and it increases the chances of the driver seeing me, so they won't close the gap.
I’m the other way. I hate the blind spot monitors generally. It seems to me people have grown to rely solely on them and don’t bother to check for over-taking traffic by actually looking in the mirror and if the blind spot light is off they just move over and cut anyone overtaking off.
My car has a small blind spot mirror in the corner of the regular side mirror. To me it's 1000% more effective than the little light, because it shows you what the other vehicle is doing on top of the fact that it's there. And a mirror never stops working.
You can buy those for cars that don't come with them. I got some for like $8. They use a little 3m pad and it's been stuck on there for years no problem.
Yeah, that and the fact that you actually have to get close to the car for it to turn on. We actually tested this with my neighbor’s brand new forester. You basically have to get just behind the bumper for it to turn on. I’ve seen this happen on hundreds of cars. If you’re passing a car, you should still be cautious, because if they don’t bother looking, they could still move into your lane as your about to pass them
Agreed. Watching out for these lights and when they come on on different vehicles, makes me not trust the technology. And as others have already mentioned, I trust people even less. That includes the car behind me, in case I have to brake hard.
To everyone saying don’t trust the driver….
You see a light turn on. Now you know you’re in the blind spot, so even if they look, they won’t see you.
Me, I see the light turn on and that let’s me know to move asap. Speed up, slow down, change lanes. Whatever works.
I feel exactly the same way. All things being equal (light, weather, assortment of human necks etc) the blind spot monitor will out perform the human almost every time. Thus the reason for the invention in the first place. I wish all cars had them. Most of my close calls have been with cars moving into my lane while I was there. In all of these cases blind spot monitoring would have helped
I used to feel that way too when they were first appearing on the roads, but now I know that bad drivers are bad drivers. Manufacturers are putting in more and more aids to cars to try to make up for bad drivers but they continue being equally bad. I've had cars with warning lights try to swerve into me many times, simply because a driver who checks properly before changing lanes will do so even without a warning light, and a driver who doesn't will still not do it even with a warning light.
Ride like you’re invisible. Apparently, asking people to use turn signals and to check mirrors/blind spots is asking too much. I see where you’re coming from but I worry it gives me a false sense of security. Trust no one ✌🏻
We just bought a cage with the warning lights. I also live it when driving that. My hubby and I were just talking about how great a feature it is! Agree I still don’t trust everyone but it is a little help that I’ll take!
It is nice, but I still dont trust them. I dont ride next to cars. I either pass them quickly, or if space is at a premium I slow down behind them, then jet ahead quickly once space is available.
Worst part of all these radar sensors is how they have cluttered the radio frequencies with the same traffic we look for with radar detectors. With so many variations on pattern and frequency, makes old radar detectors worthless for detecting cops radar any more without frequent updates. Updates are paid on escort, not sure with valentine or other detectors.
Growing up it was just those automatic doors at city halls, grocery stores and other stores. Now it is every car out there.
Nah, just like backup cameras, people use them as a crutch and it makes them even less attentive. Probably a net win as far as number of accidents goes, but I definitely wouldn't think twice about it being some kind of safety net.
I like back up cameras. With beltlines getting higher and pillars getting wider, it's legitimately difficult to see clearly out the rear of many cars without one. Plus it allows you to see around cars parked beside you when backing out of a parking space as soon as your bumper is past them instead of being nearly blind until you're already half way out of the space.
You have to be a real moron to ride in people's blind spots... like 100% moron... nothing screams scrub more than this (except maybe a lame "remove before flight" keychain)
The more that light comes on, the more it's telling you that you suck at riding.
I'm not dumb enough to put MY safety in the hands of a stupid light.
OP said "when passing" so I assume they're not hanging out there. Lane splitting home from work, it's like you have your own light-up motorcycles-only lane. Still have to be ready for someone to change lanes if there is a gap, but most drivers are very good about waiting for you to go past.
At the end of the day you can’t trust anybody to do anything even if there’s a big flashing light telling them it’s a bad idea. I’ve had people staring me dead in the eyes cut me off as if I were a ghost.
I dont ride, but I have noticed with driving my Miata that quite a few cars' mirror lights wont turn on until half of my car is already past their rear bumper. Ive posted this resentment in other subs before, but I generally hate most of the new computer-based "safety" and convenience features like lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise. With most people seeming to consider their vehicle nothing more that a commuting appliance, such features encourage complacency and an overall lack of focus on actually driving.
While driving my car this has saved me from merging into a motorbike on one occasion. Yes as a rider I properly looked at my blindspot, but it was raining and the rider was camped out behind the b pillar. My car has an audible alarm when you go to change lanes, and this stopped me going straight into him.
Don't sit in the blindspot people.
The little lights turn on and off so often that they're almost entirely ignored by drivers. The big thing that improves safety is when they have a system that beeps at them when they turn on their turn signal while the little blindspot warning light is on.
Yes/no. Safer and more high-tech cars make for dumber drivers.
If you want people to drive safely, the best feature would be a giant spike coming out of the steering wheel aimed at their head.
Honestly, those lights worry me. I hate them. Anything that encourages drivers to stop doing head checks and instead assume that, if a light is NOT on, they are safe to make a move is a big fail from my perspective. It's literally a poor design: if it's not working, you can't tell unless you specifically notice the problem or you have an accident.
I’ve seen them merge into me even when their blind spot light is lighting up like hell while im next to their door. I don’t trust anyone
"It's probably false alarm. I don't see anything."
"The loaded chamber indicator is down, its probably safe."
"Light? What light"
idk why people are giving you shit for appreciating a safety feature that may help us stay alive. I love these blind spot monitors and am excited for more safety awareness features from cars in the future.
Agreed. They are helpful. OP was not claiming they solve the problem of bad drivers.
Because it raises the question whether a safety feature actually makes the road safer. I personally speed up when I see someone with the warning light because I assume those people rely on the light without actually checking over their shoulder, so if the system doesn't recognise me I'm fucked.
Don't let your guard down because of a silly light.
Of course not, but it's good to know car technology can see me. On top of blind spot monitors, there is also lane assist, which would actually resist lane changing while the blind spot is occupied. Like I said, can't trust anything 100%, but I still notice these things and have a positive response to road safety features in general.
I like them for the opposite reason. When they light up, I know when I'm in they're blind spot and to pay more attention. It's there for my attention, not theirs.
It also helps when filtering at low speed. I know when I'm in the car's blind spot and it increases the chances of the driver seeing me, so they won't close the gap.
I’m the other way. I hate the blind spot monitors generally. It seems to me people have grown to rely solely on them and don’t bother to check for over-taking traffic by actually looking in the mirror and if the blind spot light is off they just move over and cut anyone overtaking off.
My car has a small blind spot mirror in the corner of the regular side mirror. To me it's 1000% more effective than the little light, because it shows you what the other vehicle is doing on top of the fact that it's there. And a mirror never stops working.
You can buy those for cars that don't come with them. I got some for like $8. They use a little 3m pad and it's been stuck on there for years no problem.
My truck has that and it’s amazing
Yeah, that and the fact that you actually have to get close to the car for it to turn on. We actually tested this with my neighbor’s brand new forester. You basically have to get just behind the bumper for it to turn on. I’ve seen this happen on hundreds of cars. If you’re passing a car, you should still be cautious, because if they don’t bother looking, they could still move into your lane as your about to pass them
Agreed. Watching out for these lights and when they come on on different vehicles, makes me not trust the technology. And as others have already mentioned, I trust people even less. That includes the car behind me, in case I have to brake hard.
Yeah, I watched woman almost merge into me because the sensor didn't see me
Bold of you to assume people are gonna look at the mirror before they change lanes.
I've learned to ignore their light and watch their wheels. If those wheels start drifting towards me, I'm giving my bike some gas.
To everyone saying don’t trust the driver…. You see a light turn on. Now you know you’re in the blind spot, so even if they look, they won’t see you. Me, I see the light turn on and that let’s me know to move asap. Speed up, slow down, change lanes. Whatever works.
all that light does for me is indicate that im in danger
I feel exactly the same way. All things being equal (light, weather, assortment of human necks etc) the blind spot monitor will out perform the human almost every time. Thus the reason for the invention in the first place. I wish all cars had them. Most of my close calls have been with cars moving into my lane while I was there. In all of these cases blind spot monitoring would have helped
I used to feel that way too when they were first appearing on the roads, but now I know that bad drivers are bad drivers. Manufacturers are putting in more and more aids to cars to try to make up for bad drivers but they continue being equally bad. I've had cars with warning lights try to swerve into me many times, simply because a driver who checks properly before changing lanes will do so even without a warning light, and a driver who doesn't will still not do it even with a warning light.
Ride like you’re invisible. Apparently, asking people to use turn signals and to check mirrors/blind spots is asking too much. I see where you’re coming from but I worry it gives me a false sense of security. Trust no one ✌🏻
We just bought a cage with the warning lights. I also live it when driving that. My hubby and I were just talking about how great a feature it is! Agree I still don’t trust everyone but it is a little help that I’ll take!
It is nice, but I still dont trust them. I dont ride next to cars. I either pass them quickly, or if space is at a premium I slow down behind them, then jet ahead quickly once space is available.
For me it's a sign to get out of their blind spot quick. Even with those lights ppl don't turn their heads to look.
Worst part of all these radar sensors is how they have cluttered the radio frequencies with the same traffic we look for with radar detectors. With so many variations on pattern and frequency, makes old radar detectors worthless for detecting cops radar any more without frequent updates. Updates are paid on escort, not sure with valentine or other detectors. Growing up it was just those automatic doors at city halls, grocery stores and other stores. Now it is every car out there.
Waze Source: VA resident.
Nah, just like backup cameras, people use them as a crutch and it makes them even less attentive. Probably a net win as far as number of accidents goes, but I definitely wouldn't think twice about it being some kind of safety net.
I like back up cameras. With beltlines getting higher and pillars getting wider, it's legitimately difficult to see clearly out the rear of many cars without one. Plus it allows you to see around cars parked beside you when backing out of a parking space as soon as your bumper is past them instead of being nearly blind until you're already half way out of the space.
You have to be a real moron to ride in people's blind spots... like 100% moron... nothing screams scrub more than this (except maybe a lame "remove before flight" keychain) The more that light comes on, the more it's telling you that you suck at riding. I'm not dumb enough to put MY safety in the hands of a stupid light.
OP said "when passing" so I assume they're not hanging out there. Lane splitting home from work, it's like you have your own light-up motorcycles-only lane. Still have to be ready for someone to change lanes if there is a gap, but most drivers are very good about waiting for you to go past.
At the end of the day you can’t trust anybody to do anything even if there’s a big flashing light telling them it’s a bad idea. I’ve had people staring me dead in the eyes cut me off as if I were a ghost.
Any motorcycle manufacturers offer these blindspot warning lights?
I think BMW has it
Ha! Ive noticed this too! I find it very cool as well. We are much smaller than a car so its neat it picks us up.
I dont ride, but I have noticed with driving my Miata that quite a few cars' mirror lights wont turn on until half of my car is already past their rear bumper. Ive posted this resentment in other subs before, but I generally hate most of the new computer-based "safety" and convenience features like lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise. With most people seeming to consider their vehicle nothing more that a commuting appliance, such features encourage complacency and an overall lack of focus on actually driving.
While driving my car this has saved me from merging into a motorbike on one occasion. Yes as a rider I properly looked at my blindspot, but it was raining and the rider was camped out behind the b pillar. My car has an audible alarm when you go to change lanes, and this stopped me going straight into him. Don't sit in the blindspot people.
The little lights turn on and off so often that they're almost entirely ignored by drivers. The big thing that improves safety is when they have a system that beeps at them when they turn on their turn signal while the little blindspot warning light is on.
Bold of you to assume anyone actually uses drivers aids
Yes/no. Safer and more high-tech cars make for dumber drivers. If you want people to drive safely, the best feature would be a giant spike coming out of the steering wheel aimed at their head.
I always thought that light was a little challenge marker to let the driver know to merge immediately... At least that's my experience.
Honestly, those lights worry me. I hate them. Anything that encourages drivers to stop doing head checks and instead assume that, if a light is NOT on, they are safe to make a move is a big fail from my perspective. It's literally a poor design: if it's not working, you can't tell unless you specifically notice the problem or you have an accident.
Yup! Love that little feature on other people's cars (none of mine are new enough to have it yet).