Lexus ES: BSM (Blind Spot Monitor)

The Blind Spot Monitor is a system that uses rear side radar sensors installed on the inner side of the rear bumper on the left and right side to assist the driver in confirming safety when changing lanes.

WARNING

■Cautions regarding the use of the function The driver is solely responsible for safe driving. Always drive safely, taking care to observe your surroundings.

The Blind Spot Monitor is a supplementary function which alerts the driver that a vehicle is in a blind spot of the outside rear view mirrors or is approaching rapidly from behind into a blind spot. Do not overly rely on the Blind Spot Monitor. As the function cannot judge if it is safe to change lanes, over reliance could lead to an accident resulting in death or serious injury.

As the system may not function correctly under certain conditions, the driver's own visual confirmation of safety is necessary.

System components

1. Meter control switches
   Turn the Blind Spot Monitor on/off.
2. Outside rear view mirror indicators
   When a vehicle is detected in a blind spot of the outside rear view mirrors or approaching rapidly from behind into a blind spot, the outside rear view mirror indicator on the detected side will illuminate.

   If the turn signal lever is operated toward the detected side, the outside rear view mirror indicator will flash.

3. BSM indicator
   When the Blind Spot Monitor is turned on, the indicator comes on.

Turning the Blind Spot Monitor on/off

1. Press or of the meter control switches, select .

2. Press or of the meter control switches, select "BSM", and then press "OK".

■Outside rear view mirror indicator visibility In strong sunlight, the outside rear view mirror indicator may be difficult to see.

■When "Blind Spot Monitor Unavailable" is shown on the multi-information display Ice, snow, mud, etc., may be attached to the rear bumper around the sensors.

Remove the ice, snow, mud, etc., attached to the rear bumper around the sensors to return the function to normal. Additionally, the sensors may not operate normally when driving in extremely hot or cold environments.

■Customization Some functions can be customized.

WARNING

■Handling the rear side radar sensors Blind Spot Monitor sensors are installed behind the left and right sides of the rear bumper respectively. Observe the following to ensure the Blind Spot Monitor can function correctly.

• Keep the sensors and the surrounding areas on the rear bumper clean at all times.

  If a sensor or its surrounding area on the rear bumper is dirty or covered with snow, the Blind Spot Monitor may not operate and a warning message will be displayed. In this situation, clear off the dirt or snow and drive the vehicle with the operation conditions of the BSM function satisfied for approximately 10 minutes. If the warning message does not disappear, have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.

• Do not subject a sensor or its surrounding area on the rear bumper to a strong impact.

  If a sensor is moved even slightly off position, the system may malfunction and vehicles may not be detected correctly.

  In the following situations, have your vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.

  • A sensor or its surrounding area is subject to a strong impact.
  • If the surrounding area of a sensor is scratched or dented, or part of them has become disconnected.
• Do not disassemble the sensor.
• Do not attach accessories, stickers (including transparent stickers), aluminum tape, etc. to a sensor or its surrounding area on the rear bumper.
• Do not modify the sensor or surrounding area on the rear bumper.
• If a sensor or the rear bumper needs to be removed/installed or replaced, contact your Lexus dealer.
• Do not paint the rear bumper any color other than an official Lexus color.

Blind Spot Monitor operation

■ Vehicles that can be detected by the Blind Spot Monitor The Blind Spot Monitor uses rear side radar sensors to detect the following vehicles traveling in adjacent lanes and advises the driver of the presence of such vehicles via the indicators on the outside rear view mirrors.

1. Vehicles that are traveling in areas that are not visible using the outside rear view mirrors (the blind spots)
2. Vehicles that are approaching rapidly from behind in areas that are not visible using the outside rear view mirrors (the blind spots)

■ Blind Spot Monitor detection areas The areas that vehicles can be detected in are outlined below.

The range of each detection area is:

1. Approximately 1.6 ft. (0.5 m) to 11.5 ft. (3.5 m) from either side of the vehicle*1
2. Approximately 3.3 ft. (1 m) forward of the rear bumper
3. Approximately 9.8 ft. (3 m) from the rear bumper
4. Approximately 9.8 ft. (3 m) to 197 ft. (60 m) from the rear bumper*2

*1: The area between the side of the vehicle and 1.6 ft. (0.5 m) from the side of the vehicle cannot be detected.
*2: The greater the difference in speed between your vehicle and the detected vehicle is, the farther away the vehicle will be detected, causing the outside rear view mirror indicator to illuminate or flash.

■The Blind Spot Monitor is operational when

The Blind Spot Monitor is operational when all of the following conditions are met:

• The Blind Spot Monitor is on.
• The shift lever is in a position other than R.
• The vehicle speed is greater than approximately 10 mph (16 km/h).

■The Blind Spot Monitor will detect a vehicle when

The Blind Spot Monitor will detect a vehicle present in the detection area in the following situations:

• A vehicle in an adjacent lane overtakes your vehicle.
• You overtake a vehicle in adjacent lane slowly.
• Another vehicle enters the detection area when it changes lanes.

■Conditions under which the Blind Spot Monitor will not detect a vehicle

The Blind Spot Monitor is not designed to detect the following types of vehicles and/or objects:

• Small motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, etc.*
• Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction
• Guardrails, walls, signs, parked vehicles and similar stationary objects*
• Following vehicles that are in the same lane*
• Vehicles traveling 2 lanes away from your vehicle*
• Vehicles which are being overtaken rapidly by your vehicle.*

*: Depending on the conditions, detection of a vehicle and/or object may occur.

■Conditions under which the Blind Spot Monitor may not function correctly

• The Blind Spot Monitor may not detect vehicles correctly in the following situations:
  • When the sensor is misaligned due to a strong impact to the sensor or its surrounding area
  • When mud, snow, ice, a sticker, etc. is covering the sensor or surrounding area on the rear bumper
  • When driving on a road surface that is wet with standing water during bad weather, such as heavy rain, snow, or fog
  • When multiple vehicles are approaching with only a small gap between each vehicle
  • When the distance between your vehicle and a following vehicle is short
  • When there is a significant difference in speed between your vehicle and the vehicle that enters the detection area
  • When the difference in speed between your vehicle and another vehicle is changing
  • When a vehicle enters a detection area traveling at about the same speed as your vehicle
  • As your vehicle starts from a stop, a vehicle remains in the detection area
  • When driving up and down consecutive steep inclines, such as hills, dips in the road, etc.
  • When driving on roads with sharp bends, consecutive curves, or uneven surfaces
  • When vehicle lanes are wide, or when driving on the edge of a lane, and the vehicle in an adjacent lane is far away from your vehicle
  • When an accessory (such as a bicycle carrier) or towing eyelet is installed to the rear of the vehicle
  • When there is a significant difference in height between your vehicle and the vehicle that enters the detection area
  • Immediately after the Blind Spot Monitor is turned on
• Instances of the Blind Spot Monitor unnecessarily detecting a vehicle and/or object may increase in the following situations:
  • When the sensor is misaligned due to a strong impact to the sensor or its surrounding area
  • When the distance between your vehicle and a guardrail, wall, etc. that enters the detection area is short
  • When driving up and down consecutive steep inclines, such as hills, dips in the road, etc.
  • When vehicle lanes are narrow, or when driving on the edge of a lane, and a vehicle traveling in a lane other than the adjacent lanes enters the detection area
  • When driving on roads with sharp bends, consecutive curves, or uneven surfaces
  • When the tires are slipping or spinning
  • When the distance between your vehicle and a following vehicle is short
  • When an accessory (such as a bicycle carrier) or towing eyelet is installed to the rear of the vehicle

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