How Does the Blind Spot Monitor Work?

You’ve seen people driving that have a little light on the side mirror glass. When you get close, it turns yellow, but if you back off enough, it goes out. And you’ve heard a bunch about Blind Spot Monitor systems but you’ve never driven a car with it. How the heck does it work?
Blind Spot Monitoring is becoming a fairly common driver-assistive system, especially on Toyota models like the Toyota Camry, Toyota Highlander, and Toyota Avalon. It’s easy to understand, and there’s nothing special you need to do to use it. Here’s how the Blind Spot Monitor works on a Toyota.

The Blind Spot Monitor Light

On the outside mirrors, there’s a small light that comes on. The image is of to rudimentary car shapes with two curved lines between the two. Really, it’s shaped like a car in another car’s blind spot.

When it Comes On

The BSM indicator comes on in two situations – when there’s a car in your blind spot as you’re driving forward, and when the Rear Cross-Traffic Alert function detects a vehicle.
When you’re driving forward and there’s a car that enters your blind spot, the BSM light comes on solid. It remains on until the car leaves your blind spot altogether.
If your turn signal indicator is on, indicating that you want to change lanes, the BSM light begins flashing. It’s trying to draw your attention, urgently telling you it isn’t safe to make the lane change quite yet.
If you’re reversing and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert detects a vehicle coming from the side, it will illuminate the BSM light on your outside rearview mirror also. It’s telling you it’s not safe to back up further – wait until the coast is clear.

Blind Spot Monitor systems are available on most new Toyota models. To learn more about how it works in real life, or to find a Toyota equipped with Blind Spot Monitoring, visit Jay Wolfe Toyota of West County.