my other car is a volvo, and the cross traffic thing is really helpful backing out of a parking spot, and the other safety features are great, but i just can't see the appeal of the blind spot monitoring system. i can check a mirror just as quickly as checking for the little light (which i end up still checking the mirrors because i don't trust it).

i'm not anti safety features or anti-technology by any means, but specifically for blind spot monitoring i've never seen the appeal despite having had them on multiple cars i've owned. i mean the light is right on the mirror, you have to look at the mirror to see the light so just check your mirror. i just don't trust a little light to replace situational awareness, i don't get it.

I just use a RAV4 side mirror works fine I don’t have a blind spot at all

BSM isn't "all seeing" and you certainly cannot rely on it in inclement weather. That said, BSM is an aid in ALL conditions and nothing you should be relying on.

This is one issue with some of these driving aids as we start relying on them too heavily.

The BSM should be a secondary alarm to alert you to something that you may have overlooked and isn't a substitute for proper mirror alignment.

So how do adjust your mirrors properly? It isn't intuitive and a bit unsettling at first. Here are the easy steps:

Adjust your seat and inside mirror. In your normal driving position, you should see equal amounts of the "D" pillar on either side of the back window.

Lean to the left and rest your head against the driver's window. Adjust that mirror until you can just barely see the side of your car.

Lean to the right over the mid point of the center console and adjust the right mirror so that you can just barely see the side of the car.

That eliminates all of the blind spots.

But properly adjusted mirrors have limitations too. See my post #7.

But that's the point of BSM! It works in addition to you looking in the mirror.

Yes, you CAN adjust your mirror correctly (situation awareness) AND have BSM work at the same time.

You can have cake and eat it too.

And that's the beauty of BSM.......old fashion way HAS limitations (see Post #7). BSM eliminates those weakness of the old system withOUT eliminating the old system...it adds to it.

And there is actual data to support BSM being on cars:

Modern Safety Tech in Cars is Actually Preventing Accidents and Saving Lives, Studies Say - The Drive

Blind Spot Detection & Warning Cameras/Sensors Could Save Lives | auto connected car news

Had bsm on a previous vehicle. It was nice. Not a deal breaker for us. Stick on convex mirrors solved the problem. 4runner has good sight lines. It's also very reliable with great resale value.

I just came from a 2018 Yukon Denali with every single safety option available, yet my insurance premiums went up $20 a month on my 2020 TRDP

Not sure what makes the premiums higher on a 50k truck vs an 80k one. And this is Statefarm which also includes my home owners insurance and a multi car discount.

Maybe because Denali parts & labor are cheaper since it is made here. 4runner parts are more expensive to get. Just my guess.

I went from Lexus GX ($65k) to LC ($85k)...and my insurance went down! I think that it is due to Lexus parts & labor being more expensive.

"You could argue that passive safety tech doesn’t make drivers worse, but rather, makes drivers who are already bad at driving less dangerous to themselves and the people they’re sharing the road with—something we can all agree with."

It's kind of like those guns where the trigger wont work without a magazine inserted, I'm sure those save lives but so doesfollowing the 4 rules of gun safety.

Just be aware of your surroundings at all times, think ahead, expect the worst and dont allow yourself to be in a position where you dont have time/space to react. That's all there is to it. I know some cities where it's impossible you know bumper to bumper at 80 mph and if you do give yourself space someone just moves in to it, but doubt BSM is going to help with that. But IMO its a marketing gimmick crutch for bad drivers.

But, remember, you can have cake AND eat it too. Ordering BSM does NOT mean that you have to ignore your old ways.

But yeah, BSM saves other lives too, not just driver's own.

Do you disconnect ABS fuse ?? Because that takes away from old ways of pumping the brakes by yourself. Do you disconnect VSC fuse too in daily driving because that may hinder in that rare situation where you need throttle around a corner?

BSM has no harm. Only good. Does not take anything away from you. Does NOT prevent you from adjusting your mirror appropriately.

Man I dont even trust the mirror I look over my shoulder all the time even on turns in case some biker is lane splitting or something like that. I got taught in the UK who are the biggest anal retentive safety freaks ever, I failed the test the first time. They drill that stuff in your head because there is so many cyclists and pedestrians over there. They make you do the test in a manual too.

BTW, BSM detects bikes/cycles too.

Maybe it's the demographics of who drives them or the implied intent of owning one? I guess the TRDP is a "performance" off road truck. Kind of like the rates you get on a WRX vs an Impreza. I wonder if a Limited is cheaper to insure?

I specifically bought a 2019 because it didn't have those nanny systems like BSM. I thought the 2020 was going to come with BSM?

Mirrors work for a quick glance, and i can tell whats next to me and how fast its approaching or not. BSM wont do that, and in my last car i found BSM more distracting than anything else so i just ignored it.

I wont change lanes unless i can SEE whats next to me (mirror/window), BSM or no BSM. I have had too many BSM people cut me off. But it is an additional layer of awareness so i totally get why people want it.