Diane Green
The Honda Insight is a hybrid vehicle that was first introduced in 2019. While the 2019 and 2020 models did not come with built-in blind-spot monitoring, it was possible to install an aftermarket blind-spot monitoring system. The 2021 Honda Insight EX and Touring trims come with blind-spot monitoring as a standard feature, with the option to retrofit older models.
What You'll Learn
Blind spot monitoring as a standard feature
Blind-spot monitoring is a safety feature that uses sensors mounted on side mirrors or the rear bumper to detect vehicles in adjacent lanes. This feature is now commonly offered as a standard feature or as an option across the market, not just in luxury vehicles.
Honda offers blind-spot monitoring as a standard feature in its higher trims, including the 2021 Honda Insight EX and Touring trims. The 2021 Honda Insight is a 4-door sedan that comes with an efficient and powerful powertrain. The EX trim offers features such as remote start, blind-spot monitoring, a rearview camera, Android Auto compatibility, and Apple CarPlay. The Touring trim includes side mirrors with signal displays, integrated navigation, a moonroof, heated front seats, and a leather-trimmed interior.
The Honda Sensing® suite, which includes the higher trims' blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert, enhances the safety of the 2021 Honda Insight. This safety suite combines features such as collision warning, lane departure warning, and mitigation braking, among others.
While blind-spot monitoring was previously offered as an option or upgrade, it is now becoming a standard feature in many vehicles, including the Honda Insight. This feature enhances driving safety and awareness, especially for larger vehicles with more significant blind spots.
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Aftermarket blind spot monitoring
Types of Aftermarket Systems
Benefits of Aftermarket Systems
- Enhanced safety: These systems can help prevent lane change collisions and reduce the overall accident rate, making them a valuable investment.
- Improved driver confidence: Knowing that a system is actively monitoring blind spots can give drivers, especially novice ones, more confidence on the road.
- Increased awareness: Aftermarket systems complement mirrors by providing a wider range of awareness, making them particularly useful on multi-lane highways or in tight spaces.
- Stress relief: These systems reduce stress levels, especially for drivers of larger vehicles who can now easily monitor unseen areas.
- Accident prevention and minimization: The systems alert drivers to potential hazards, allowing them to take evasive action and potentially prevent accidents or minimise their impact.
Components of Aftermarket Systems
A typical aftermarket blind spot monitoring system consists of the following components:
- Sensors: These act as the eyes of the system, using technologies like radar, sonar, and lidar to detect objects in the blind spot.
- Indicators: Visual and/or audible indicators alert the driver to potential dangers. Visual indicators typically use LED lights, while audible alerts may include buzzers or alarms.
- Control box: This component allows adjustments to the volume of the buzzer and the brightness or glare of the lights.
- Camera screens: Some systems include camera screens that provide a live feed, giving drivers a direct view of the blind spot.
Installation
Cost
The cost of aftermarket blind spot monitoring systems varies. Basic systems can be found for under $250, while mid-range options range from $250 to $500. High-end systems that offer the highest accuracy and reliability typically cost $500 or more.
Examples of Aftermarket Systems
Some popular aftermarket blind spot monitoring systems include:
- Rexing M2 Smart Mirror Dash Cam with BSD ADAS: Combines a blind spot monitoring system with a dash cam, using radar sensors and visual and audible alerts.
- Crimestopper SafetyPlus Universal Front & Rear Blind Spot Detection System: A sensor-based system with four sensors covering all four corners of the vehicle, offering an affordable and easy-to-install option.
- Blind Spot Sensor System: A radar sensor-based system with LED indicators in the side mirrors, offering high user ratings but at a higher price point.
- Pyle Ultrasonic Blind Spot Detection System: A budget-friendly, sensor-based system using ultrasonic sensors, suitable for drivers seeking a basic and affordable solution.
- TadiBrothers Ultra Sonic Blind Spot Detection System: Another budget-friendly, sensor-based system that is easy to install.
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Honda Insight's blind spot monitoring
The Honda Insight is a hybrid vehicle that was reintroduced in 2019 as the third generation in the Honda series. The 2021 Honda Insight offers added safety features, including blind-spot monitoring. This feature is standard on EX and Touring trims, replacing the previous LaneWatch camera system. The blind-spot monitoring system provides warning lights for both the driver and passenger sides that illuminate when the car senses a vehicle in the blind spots.
The EX trim offers various features such as a proximity key that allows you to walk away and lock the car, remote start, blind-spot monitoring, a rearview camera, Android Auto compatibility, and Apple CarPlay. The Touring trim includes additional features such as side mirrors with signal displays, integrated navigation, a moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
The 2021 Honda Insight carries a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $22,930, excluding destination and handling fees. The hybrid powertrain provides impressive fuel efficiency, with an EPA city fuel economy rating of up to 55 mpg. The Insight also offers a spacious interior, a refined driving experience, and advanced safety features, making it a premium choice in the compact sedan market.
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How blind-spot monitoring operates
Blind-spot monitoring is a vehicle-based sensor device that detects other vehicles located in a driver's blind spot, which is the space just off the rear quarter areas of your vehicle. These spots can hide a vehicle approaching in an adjacent lane, and many drivers improperly set their car's outboard mirrors, so merging into that lane often results in a crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), roughly 9% of all reported vehicle crashes each year result from changing lanes or merging.
Blind-spot monitoring systems use a set of sensors mounted on the side mirrors or rear bumper to detect vehicles in the adjacent lanes. If the sensors detect something, they alert the driver via an audible, visual, vibrating, or tactile warning. Some vehicles also use a camera as the main part of the system or to complement the sensors.
The sensors are usually round indentations in the bodywork or fascias. Once the sensors detect an approaching vehicle, they transmit an alert to the indicators. Indicators can include visual LED lights and an alarm. More advanced systems will also sound an alert and automatically apply the brakes.
Blind-spot monitoring systems can be purchased as an aftermarket kit, or they may come standard on a vehicle. They are especially useful for larger vehicles, which tend to have bigger blind spots.
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Benefits of blind-spot monitoring
Blind-spot monitoring is a feature that is now available on many vehicles, from affordable models to luxury cars. It is an active driver aid/safety device that can detect what the driver's eyes may miss and warn them of potential hazards. Here are some benefits of blind-spot monitoring:
Accident Prevention and Minimization
Blind-spot monitoring can prevent some accidents and minimize others. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 9% of all reported vehicle crashes each year result from changing lanes or merging. Blind-spot monitoring systems can provide an early warning, increasing the time the driver has to respond and helping to prevent accidents. Studies have shown that blind-spot monitoring reduces lane-changing accidents and injuries.
Increased Driving Awareness
Blind-spot monitoring increases the driver's awareness of their surroundings. It constantly views the areas that the driver may not be able to track while driving, such as the spaces just off the rear quarter areas of the vehicle, which can hide approaching vehicles in adjacent lanes. This is especially helpful for drivers of larger vehicles who may have bigger blind spots.
Stress Relief and Increased Confidence
Blind-spot monitoring can relieve some of the stress of driving in close quarters or heavy traffic. It can help the driver feel safer and more confident, and their passengers will also feel more secure.
Advanced Features
Some advanced blind-spot monitoring systems can nudge the driver away from the lane marker or even steer them back to the centre of the lane by applying brake pressure to one or more wheels. These systems can provide steering assistance in addition to the alert, helping to avoid potential dangers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the 2021 Honda Insight offers blind-spot monitoring as standard on EX and Touring trims.
Yes, you can add an aftermarket blind-spot monitoring system to your car. These systems are universal and can be installed professionally or by yourself.
Blind-spot monitoring increases your driving awareness, assists drivers of larger vehicles, prevents crashes and increases response time.
