2012 Mazda MAZDA3: Blind Spot Monitor Annoyance
March 16, 2012
A few nights ago I was on my way home in the Mazda 3 when the Blind Spot Monitor began triggering unnecesarily. For me, these systems are of limited value. Part of the problem is that they're calibrated too conservatively for driving in the constant congestion of a city like Los Angeles.
Here's why...
The turn signal, in L.A., is a sign of weakness. Using it as advance warning of your intentions is an invitation for drivers in other lanes to close the gap you're trying to fill. Protocol here, too often, is to change lanes, then signal, then look. I'm not saying that's how I do it, but that's how it feels.
These systems -- and this one in particular -- are simply not designed to work in an environment where traffic is tightly surrounding your vehicle on every side. So after a few false alarms I switched the BSM off. That's when the yellow warning light you see here appeared on the instrument panel. I find it as distracting as the constant BSM false alarms.
And I don't need another distraction.
Josh Jacquot, Senior editor
