Did you know that the blind spot monitoring system on your car dropped the accidents rate down to 14% in the past year? But what are these things, and how do they work?
In general, the BSM are radar sensors used to detect the surrounding vehicle. It’s an extra layer of security to protect you from accidents. Wondering how they work? This article will provide a deep insight into blind spot monitoring systems and their working principle.
However, let’s start with understanding why these systems are vital for your safety. Although the car has side and rear-view mirrors, one can still miss some incoming vehicles in certain spots. Those spots are called blind spots.
What Are Blind Spots?
Driving a car may seem difficult for beginners. However, it is equally unsafe for every other automobile handler. The reason is its numerous blind spots.
Due to the framework of automobiles, drivers cannot properly monitor their surroundings. Besides, individuals can’t have 360-degree vision. For that reason, it creates a list of blind zones around the car. Some of them are:
- Extreme Frontal Portion
- Lateral Sides On The Back
- Extreme Reverse
No doubt these areas are only a few feet wide. But, these can pose dangers far greater than their measurements. But a blind spot monitoring system on your car can save you and your family in such cases.
This system acts as a helping hand for the driver. Furthermore, some call it a second pair of eyes for the user. The system will monitor and detect any obstacles inside the blind zones. Even more, it alerts the driver about incoming vehicles. But how is all that possible? To judge that, let’s take a look at the working of the blind spot system.
Working Of A Blind Spot Monitoring System in Your Car
The blind spot monitoring system consists of several parts. A few of the primary ones are:
- Millimeter wave radar for detection of cars and obstacles (trees, pavement rails, walking individuals)
- Indicator lights to alert the driver
- Cords for installation
- Control box (available only in a few products) to manage the buzzer sound and lights blinking
- Buzzer to prompt an alert sound
- Installation bracket to install the radar
- Installation sticker to install the lights and buzzer
Every one of these parts is equally important in the product’s functioning. For instance, the smallest element of the installation sticker can also impact bigger features such as detection.
As for step-wise functioning, the whole story starts from radar. Millimeter wave radar is a special type of wave-emitting equipment that uses microwaves to detect. The radar sensor has different frequency bands that affect its detection range, accuracy, and time.
Normally the blind spot monitoring system comes in three different frequency ranges. They are:
- 24Ghz
- 77Ghz
- 79Ghz
As the number increases, the frequency band also increases. And with its influence, detection range and accuracy improve. Furthermore, if the number of radars increases, it will impact the efficiency. Sometimes having multiple radars can increase the detection area. Therefore, the overall system efficiency increases.
The radar keeps sending signals and receives the input. In case of any interference by the obstacle, the waves get distorted, leading to detection. Once all is done with detection, the system moves forward to alarm the rider about potential hazards.
The alarming phenomenon has two parts. Some use indicator lights that blink at regular intervals. However, some have a buzzer that prompts a sound repeatedly to alert the driver.
But the million-dollar question still resides! How does it help practically? The best way to help you understand its role as a driving assist is to provide a few situations in which it comes in handy.
How Can Blind Spot Monitoring Systems Help With Driving Safety?
The working of blind spot monitoring system cleared up how it works to detect the surrounding vehicles. Now to understand how it can protect you, here are key features:
Reduce The Safety Hazards Of Merging
Did you know that a few years back highway merging accident rate was above 15%? According to recent studies, it dropped to 6%, and experts suggest blind spot systems have a great hand in it.
You can judge its effectiveness by the fact that all the advanced vehicles are equipped with BSM. Besides, the growing sector of aftermarket blind spot monitoring is a witness to its successful integration and benefits.
The system monitors unseen road spots using the advanced method and digital detection. So, any obstacle left unnoticed won’t be a problem anymore as the system will provide a lighting signal or a buzzer sound to alert the driver.
The BSM systems come with two illuminating lights. The drivers have to install them inside the car cabin where they can easily see the alert signal. Illumination in the left light means there is an obstacle on the left side of your car and vice versa. Hence, you don’t merge into vehicles invisible in your side mirrors.
Reduced Uncertainty in Judgment
While driving a car, your judgment has all its basis around physical factors. However, if you make decisions based on assumptions, these won’t remain certain.
In the case of blind spots, you can’t visually see the risk in the area. Therefore, you will have to reside on external assistance for better judgment.
Blind spot monitoring systems remove the uncertainty caused by blind spots and help you make accurate decisions. Better decisions lead to a safer driving experience. Here are a few ways the system reduced uncertainty.
1. Assessment Of Risk
Sometimes, the avoidance of risk itself becomes a hazard. For instance, a driver may mistakenly judge a non-hazardous car as a potential risk. That can lead to bad decisions. As a result, serious collisions may take place.
That is why it is best to refrain from acting rashly. The best approach is to judge whether the precaution is necessary. Blind spot monitoring systems help you assess whether a car is in the danger zone of the vehicle or not.
The system not only detects incoming objects but also measures the speed, distance, and other factors to provide correct alerts. Some of the elements a BSM considers while detection are:
- Speed of incoming vehicle
- Distance of vehicle
- Speed of your vehicle
2. Active Alarm Equipment
Delays in anything can only bring you disadvantages and nothing more. But in the case of blind spot monitors, delay in alarm signal brings fatality and cash loss. The ideal blind spot monitoring system on your car gives alerts in milliseconds. With instant alerts, the judgment becomes crystal clear, and the vehicle stays safe from unintentional merging.
3. Improve The Safety Of The Whole Car
After buying a new car, every owner tries to keep it safe. However, on the road, it faces multiple threats and hazards. These involve:
- Lane Switch
- Unpredictable Fast Lane Cars
- Reverse Blind Zones
- Adjacent Vehicles
But it’s best to equip yourself with modern blind spot monitoring systems. They guarantee your safety only if you follow the alerts cautiously.
4. Improving The Hidden Dangers Of Driving In Bad Weather
While driving a car, the weather is not always sunny and clear. Sometimes, it is a sunny day ideal for a long drive, while some days bring a thunderstorm. It makes driving a nightmare.
In such cases, the blind spot systems help you drive safely. The darkness may blind your eyes, but it can’t capture the vision of microwaves. No snow, rain, mud, or sand can affect the vision of the blind spot monitoring systems of your car. But make sure your car has radar millimeter wave sensors, as the other sensors may not work properly in harsh weather.
Limits Of A Blind Spot Monitoring System
Blind spot monitoring system on your car is an ideal practical application for your safety. No doubt it helps you retain safety on the road while driving. However, that does not mean it can ideally execute every safety action that a driver can.
Just like every other technical product, it also has its own limitations. It is in the best interest to refrain from crossing those boundaries.
Some people rely entirely on the BSMs. However, these are just driving assistance alerting you. They can’t take the correct action to protect you. It’s your duty to be cautious and act as per the provided alerts.
There are certain limits that every blind spot system has. Every product has a limit of detection range and accuracy. Anything beyond its reach does not come under the influence of detection. So, always read the instruction manual to get an idea of the system’s limitations.
Conclusion:
Blind spot monitoring systems help you improve your vehicle’s safety using advanced radar technology. However, experts suggest that these systems are not entirely infallible. For the ideal performance, you must use them only as an assist. Blind spot vendors restrict users to over-rely on these systems.
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