Car Buyers Could Pay Extra for Blind Spot Warning Feature
A new analysis by Consumer Reports found that a safety feature called Blind Spot Warning (BSW) can cost over $1,000 extra for people buying popular trucks and SUVs. This feature helps drivers by alerting them if another car is in their blind spot. A 2019 study showed that BSW can lower crashes with injuries by 23%.
A 2022 survey showed that 82% of Americans looking to buy a car think it’s essential. However, only three of the 14 best-selling heavy vehicles have BSW as standard. Julia Friedberg from Consumer Reports says this feature is essential for big, heavy vehicles like trucks and SUVs because they have larger blind spots and are more dangerous in crashes. BSW can help make these vehicles safer.
Consumer Reports reviewed the U.S.’s best-selling heavy trucks and SUVs to see if they come with BSW. They found that none of the top-selling full-size trucks, like the Ford F-150 or Chevy Silverado, have this feature as standard. Only a few SUVs offer it without extra cost, like the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Cars without it make up 26% of all cars sold in the U.S. in 2022.
BSW Often Packaged with Extra Features
Nowadays, Blind Spot Warning (BSW) is a bit more common on basic models than it was in 2019. But often, you can only get it if you pay extra for other things you may not want. This is called “bundling.” Sometimes, you even have to buy a more expensive version of the car to get BSW, which can add thousands to the price. If you’re borrowing money to buy the car, the cost increases even more because of interest.
For example, to get BSW on a 2023 GMC Sierra 1500, you must buy a $925 package with tinted windows and cruise control. For a Toyota Highlander, the BSW feature is on the higher LE trim level, which adds $2,400.
Julia Friedberg says it’s unfair to make people pay extra for a safety feature that should come standard, like seat belts and airbags. She points out that cheaper cars like the Hyundai Elantra and Nissan Sentra offer BSW as standard, even though they cost less.
How to Find Out if a New Vehicle Has BSW
To know if a car has Blind Spot Warning (BSW), look at the sticker on the car’s window. Different automakers use different names for Blind Spot Warning. Ford calls it “BLIS,” and Chevrolet calls it “Side Blind Zone Alert.” You can go to the car maker’s website to learn what these names mean or check the side mirror for a BSW indicator if you’re at the dealership.
Shopping online for a car with BSW can be tricky. For example, Ford’s base, Bronco, says it has “Co-Pilot 360 Technology,” but that doesn’t include BSW. You must choose a more expensive model and an extra package to get BSW, which can add $7,730.
Cost to Buyers
Julia Friedberg said making people pay extra for essential safety features like Blind Spot Warning (BSW) can be expensive and risky. If consumers pay extra, they know the cost. But if they skip these features because they’re too pricey, the hidden cost could be accidents that could have been avoided.
If new cars have BSW as a standard feature, it suits people who buy used cars later. They can feel safer knowing their used car has tried-and-true safety features.
Some say adding these features to all cars will make them more expensive. But past studies show this isn’t true. Making a feature standard often makes it cheaper to produce for everyone. Also, the same sensors used for BSW are often used for other safety features like rear cross-traffic warning.
Friedberg says everyone should have access to proven safety features, not just those who can afford to pay extra.
The animated video below demonstrates how the BSW system works when the driver approaches another vehicle in a blind spot.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a California Car Accident Lawyer. If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact our law firm for free, friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. We’ve been securing the best possible outcomes for our clients in accident and wrongful death cases since 1982. See our verdicts and settlements.
Photo by Johannes Andersson on Unsplash
cha llo [cs 747]