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Speaking of mirrors and blind spots

JulesMaximus

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
I was riding up beside a new Mercedes SUV on the freeway the other day (I was passing her on the left) and noticed a red light flashing on the driver's door mirror, obviously to alert the driver that there was a vehicle in her blind spot (namely me). The light was inset in the mirror glass so it didn't look any different than a regular mirror. Kind of like those turn signals incorporated into the mirrors on some vehicles.

Made me wonder why more auto manufacturers don't employ features like this. Seems like a great safety feature.

Now if we could just get people to actually use their turn signals...
 
Yeah, the $50k Explorer I test drove on Saturday had it. I wouldn't doubt it becomes gov't mandated in the next 10 years. Tons more useful than a backup camera IMHO.
 
Mercedes does tend to be on the cutting edge of features like this. If memory serves they were the first carmaker to use airbags, laser-guided cruise control, and braking systems that would automatically dry the rotors in wet weather and pre-stage the brakes for an emergency stop if the driver lifts off the throttle abruptly (my BMW has the latter features but I'm fairly sure M-B had them first).
 
My XC60 has a BLIS but the light is not located in the mirror but the door pillar. Volvo has had it available since 2004 I believe. I find it tremendously helpful.

images
 
test drove a new lexus gs 350 and it had the feature as well. green lights though embedded in both mirrors. it was pretty awesome
 
rh71 said:
A Q5 a couple years ago even had this... think it was a red light on the mirror.
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Did you like it? Do you find it to be a useful feature?

As someone who rides a motorcycle quite often and who had had clueless motorists change lanes into my lane because they didn't check their mirrors or they weren't adjusted properly, or both, I think this is a great feature.
 
JulesMaximus said:
I've never whacked anyone's mirror. I folded a passenger door mirror in on a truck that parked too close to me once... maybe that's what you're thinking of.
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Right. Part of the thread was about riders clipping mirrors. Now that you know how expensive one of those side mirrors might be...

Heated, turn signal, area light, blind spot sensor/indicator...
 
LTC8K6 said:
Right. Part of the thread was about riders clipping mirrors. Now that you know how expensive one of those side mirrors might be...

Heated, turn signal, area light, blind spot sensor/indicator...
Click to expand...

I know how expensive car parts are... especially for a Mercedes-Benz.
 
I always turn my head when I make lane changes, so that shit's not required. I also turn my fucking head when I parallel park too. Backup cameras are for pussies.
 
I feel people could become too reliant on this stuff and stop checking blind spots altogether...what is said device fails and person does not check blind spot because the red light isn't on?

Same opinion on back up cameras.
 
DaTT said:
I feel people could become too reliant on this stuff and stop checking blind spots altogether...what is said device fails and person does not check blind spot because the red light isn't on?

Same opinion on back up cameras.
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People don't check now. Hell, it is clear that some people here don't even know how to properly adjust their mirrors.
 
People who know how to set mirrors and who know how to drive don't need such features. Unfortunately competence in almost anything these days is a dying quality. As a motorcycle rider it is your job to never stay in another driver's blind spot long enough for it to matter, making this feature useless if you know how to ride.
 
Ronstang said:
People who know how to set mirrors and who know how to drive don't need such features. Unfortunately competence in almost anything these days is a dying quality. As a motorcycle rider it is your job to never stay in another driver's blind spot long enough for it to matter, making this feature useless if you know how to ride.
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On a 5-6 lane freeway in rush hour traffic you're always going to be in and out of many blind spots. What I do is watch for inattentive drivers and leave myself enough room that I can avoid them if they start to come over. It has happened to me. And believe me, I am aware of when I'm coming up on someone and I'm in their blind spot. How do you think I noticed the blind spot detection system?

What I really fear is the jackass in the sporty car who is darting across 3 lanes without checking his mirrors. That's the MF'er who's gonna kill me one of these days.
 
JulesMaximus said:
On a 5-6 lane freeway in rush hour traffic you're always going to be in and out of many blind spots. What I do is watch for inattentive drivers and leave myself enough room that I can avoid them if they start to come over. It has happened to me. And believe me, I am aware of when I'm coming up on someone and I'm in their blind spot. How do you think I noticed the blind spot detection system?

What I really fear is the jackass in the sporty car who is darting across 3 lanes without checking his mirrors. That's the MF'er who's gonna kill me one of these days.
Click to expand...

I found this to be laugh worthy...
 
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