BSM pays for itself

[MNMazda]

I have a CX-9 GT w/Nav etc. In the first week the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) avoided an accident when changing lanes. Other drivers like weave in and out of traffic. It has helped several other times since.

 

[rk2112]

It has been extremely helpful at night especially if it's raining.

 

[njaremka]

i've found that looking over your shoulder and hesitating before switching lanes works pretty well too

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

Amen

 

[wakblak]

Word!

 

[IanKen]

i've found that looking over your shoulder and hesitating before switching lanes works pretty well too

True.

Same could be said for mirrors as well. BSM is just another tool in the toolbox. I've found it usefull in heavy traffic when keeping a safe following distance is impossible becuase some asshat is always willing to fill it with their car. In those situations looking anywhere but forward is a good way to see if your CX9 can succesfully mate with whatever vehicle is in front of you.

 

[Force-1]

Many people don't know the proper way to adjust side mirrors. There is virtually no blind spot when adjusted properly.

Eliminate Blind Spot

 

[njaremka]

Many people don't know the proper way to adjust side mirrors. There is virtually no blind spot when adjusted properly.

Eliminate Blind Spot

yup

 

[jabba]

i've found that looking over your shoulder and hesitating before switching lanes works pretty well too

Shoulder-checking is of course a good idea if you don't want to rely on the mirrors, but unfortunately for me, I had someone rear-end me because he was doing a shoulder-check in stop-and-go traffic. While he looked over for a second or so to switch to the "faster" lane, traffic in front of him had stopped abruptly, and he smashed into me.

What I do now is to adjust the mirrors as in the link, and instead of turning my head all the way back, I simply turn it slightly to the side, i.e. barely a peek. It does take a while to get used to relying more on the mirrors, but it does work. I know people who are comfortable at just looking at the mirrors only, but I can't resist a small peak to the side...

 

[IanKen]

yup

QFT. (headbang)

That is the way to do it. Even so, I find there is a wee spot still there that I cannot quite see that if filled with some petite thing like an Elise makes me glad I have the BSM.

 

[BlindspotDUDE]

BSM allows the best of both worlds and is an additional tool, it is absolutely NO replacement for using mirrors or checking your shoulder!!!!!

While I am VERY happy to hear the good feedback about the BSM, I must continuously remind people that this is an assistance tool. While it is incredibly helpful, one must be careful not to rely on it, entirely.


I see BSM roll-out the same as I watched ABS come out on cars. While ABS had some shortfalls in the intruduction phases, it could easily be misused and falsely relied upon. Today, with Dynamic Stability control, the systems are super reliable and in many cases make cars more fun to drive. BSM will follow the same rules... So, enjoy the BSM, but do NOT forget to check your shoulder!!! Drive responsible.

In the future, maybe BSM would even prevent you from changing the lane altogether? The future of BSM is really limitless!!!

 

[jeg0024]

I think the Protege sedan is really good with not having blind spots, atleast for me, but I do know the bigger the vehicle you get in the harder it can be to see others. Is it really that bad in the CX-9 though? Try an F-350 or something? Now something like that is what needs a BSM.

 

[Force-1]

Anyone else have a bad reflection problem with their side mirrors? Depending on the position of the sun, it can be very hard to see out my side mirrors, as the dash reflects off the window. For instance, I drove to Colorado Springs Saturday, and for the first few hours all I could see in my driver side mirror was the HVAC vents to the left of the steering wheel--reflected off my window, making it extremely difficult to see traffic in the mirror.

Perhaps it has something to do with the 20% tint on the windows?