Got a good scare yesterday

[tuckerdog1]

A lot of you list some pretty nice previously owned cars. So this is probably something you're familiar with. But this is the 1st car I've owned with some of these bells & whistles. And they are taking some getting used to.

So yesterday, I'm at a light with dual left turn lanes. I'm in the right lane. Light turns green, get mid turn, and an alarm starts screaming at me. WHAT THE HELL? Can't stop, too much traffic, etc. Get straight and alarm goes off. Later figured out what happened. Left turn signal on & car in lane next to me also turning left. Car thinks I'm changing lanes into another car. Blind spot warning screaming at me. Had not thought of this situation. So I guess I either turn off blind spot warning in traffic light situations, or don't use turn signal in that situation.

Unless you with more experience with this particular bell/whistle have another suggestion.

Thanks,
Tuckerdog1

 

[AustinTX]

... So I guess I either turn off blind spot warning in traffic light situations, or don't use turn signal in that situation.

Unless you with more experience with this particular bell/whistle have another suggestion.

Thanks,
Tuckerdog1

Please, please, please - use your turn signals. You can turn off the audible portion of the BSM function, but please use your turn signals - always!

 

[Rloyola0426]

This happens to me every so often, especially in dual left turn lanes. Definitely jolts me awake in the morning. It's odd we can't control the volume of those beeps. In my wife's Lexus GS 350 her bsm is either solid or flashes depending on the situation but doesn't make any noise. I end up not noticing it, especially during the day. Both cars are extremes. I want a goldilocks system lol.

 

[Midnightsun]

I turned the audible warning off about a week after I got the car and never looked back, just way to obtrusive in many cases like you just found out.

 

[Aquineas]

lol I had a similar reaction the first time I encountered this.

 

[Midnightsun]

What bothers me most is the passengers always asking what is that as it is obviously an alarm that means some kind of trouble must be happening which rightfully worries them. I tell them this is my smart car telling me something is wrong or about to happen but since it is actually pretty dumb and can't figure out on its own that there is nothing wrong, please just ignore its constant babbling. Hmmm, reminds me of my ex.

 

[zeez]

It's a problem for me because I was trained to signal left/right well-ahead of making the actual move.

1) Signal at least 5 seconds before...
2) check for an opening
3) double-check and move

So, of course, the chances of someone passing through the blind-spot are higher because I don't signal right as i'm moving, which is what most people do. I don't mind for myself or my passengers unless the baby is sleeping.

 

[Midnightsun]

You have the order wrong! You need to check for an opening/traffic before using the blinker unless you are in bumper to bumper traffic and therefor are signalling for the guy behind to brake and open the gap for you. It actually scares me if I am lets say a cars length behind and passing someone if he puts on his blinker thinking he did not see me and will switch lanes. IMHO you need to check before you use your blinker.

That being said I use my blinker on a need to basis. If I am the only car at the intersection I do not use it. Sometimes I even deliberately leave it off as I want the oncoming car to go first as opposed to both of us sitting there waiting for someone to react (waving the person on, flashing lights, etc). Once he is on his way from the intersection, I then turn on my left turn blinker to proceed.

 

[dougmcp]

Light turns green, get mid turn, and an alarm starts screaming at me. WHAT THE HELL? Can't stop, too much traffic, etc. Get straight and alarm goes off. Later figured out what happened. Left turn signal on & car in lane next to me also turning left. Car thinks I'm changing lanes into another car. Blind spot warning screaming at me.
Thanks,
Tuckerdog1

These alarms can be rather disconcerting trying to figure out if you have an impending disaster, low fuel, need washer fluid or have freezing conditions. Although there are no stats available I would bet that some of these warning beeps have redirected people's focus on driving and actually caused accidents. IMHO they are both a good thing and a scourge.

- - - Updated - - -

You have the order wrong! You need to check for an opening/traffic before using the blinker unless you are in bumper to bumper traffic and therefor are signalling for the guy behind to brake and open the gap for you. It actually scares me if I am lets say a cars length behind and passing someone if he puts on his blinker thinking he did not see me and will switch lanes. IMHO you need to check before you use your blinker.

That being said I use my blinker on a need to basis. If I am the only car at the intersection I do not use it. Sometimes I even deliberately leave it off as I want the oncoming car to go first as opposed to both of us sitting there waiting for someone to react (waving the person on, flashing lights, etc). Once he is on his way from the intersection, I then turn on my left turn blinker to proceed.

Au contraire my friend, signalling before you check for open lanes is the correct method. It shows other drivers your intentions to change lanes and allows those who are going to speed up and impede you or those that will let you in to make their move. IMHO signalling after you have checked for clearance is only a confirmation and satisfies no one but yourself. Also using your signal lights only when you think it's OK is inconsistent and a bad habit; if you use your signal lights consistently it becomes second nature and one more decision you don't have to make while driving. In this case I'm afraid zeez is correct although 5 seconds before you move could be a bit long.

 

[zeez]

5 seconds before you move could be a bit long.

You're likely right, it was a long time ago that I was taught so I may have inflated the wait period =)

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[tuckerdog1]

You have the order wrong! You need to check for an opening/traffic before using the blinker unless you are in bumper to bumper traffic and therefor are signalling for the guy behind to brake and open the gap for you. It actually scares me if I am lets say a cars length behind and passing someone if he puts on his blinker thinking he did not see me and will switch lanes. IMHO you need to check before you use your blinker.

That being said I use my blinker on a need to basis. If I am the only car at the intersection I do not use it. Sometimes I even deliberately leave it off as I want the oncoming car to go first as opposed to both of us sitting there waiting for someone to react (waving the person on, flashing lights, etc). Once he is on his way from the intersection, I then turn on my left turn blinker to proceed.

I was not changing lanes. I was turning left at an intersection that had two side by side left turn lanes. I was in the right or outside of the two lanes. There was another car in the lane to my left. That car was also turning left. The Genesis thought ( because my signal was on ), I was changing lanes, when actually both cars were turning left side by side.

Tuckerdog1

 

[AustinTX]

I was not changing lanes. I was turning left at an intersection that had two side by side left turn lanes. I was in the right or outside of the two lanes. There was another car in the lane to my left. That car was also turning left. The Genesis thought ( because my signal was on ), I was changing lanes, when actually both cars were turning left side by side.

Tuckerdog1

That's normal behavior for any vehicle I have driven that has Blind Spot Monitoring, and the car has no way of knowing if you are intending to stay in lane or actually turning left, and changing lanes at the same time. If you have frequent two-lane left turns, you have a few choices:

- always use the "left" left turn lane - then no one will be to the left of you when indicating a left turn
- turn off the audible warning, you should still see the warning in the HUD (if so equipped) and in the mirror still

The warning sound is fortunately only scary the first time this happens - I'm expecting the beep now in certain situations ...

 

[tuckerdog1]

That's normal behavior for any vehicle I have driven that has Blind Spot Monitoring, and the car has no way of knowing if you are intending to stay in lane or actually turning left, and changing lanes at the same time. If you have frequent two-lane left turns, you have a few choices:

- always use the "left" left turn lane - then no one will be to the left of you when indicating a left turn
- turn off the audible warning, you should still see the warning in the HUD (if so equipped) and in the mirror still

The warning sound is fortunately only scary the first time this happens - I'm expecting the beep now in certain situations ...

Yup, only gonna be jumping out of my skin the 1st time. These safety features are new to me. Next time, I'll just ignore it. Sometimes ( as it was in this case ), ya gotta be in the 'right' left turn lane. I had to make an immediate right turn as soon as this left turn was completed. Will leave the screamer on, and just stay aware it's gonna happen in some situations.

Tuckerdog1