Tesla Turn Signal Camera: Things You Should Know
Tesla Motors have been at the forefront of automotive innovation for years. The electric vehicle brand has been committed to enhancing the luxury and safety of its customers.
Due to these reasons, Tesla is on an unrelenting pursuit of innovations that seek to address signaling on the road. It seeks to provide drivers with unparalleled clarity and safety on the road.
One of the features that Tesla employs for this purpose is the turn signal camera.
The Tesla turn signal camera is an innovative system that aims to revolutionize drivers’ interactions with their turn signals. It provides a clear view of the area alongside and behind the vehicle. The feature enhances visibility and safety while making turns or changing lanes.
In this article, we’ll explore the Tesla turn signal camera, how to activate and adjust it, and its pros and cons.
Does Tesla Have Turn Signal Cameras?
Yes, Tesla vehicles have turn signal cameras. The electric vehicle brand introduced this feature across its models in December 2021.
The Tesla turn signal camera is a specialized system of hardware and software components.
The leading hardware is located on the exterior of the vehicles, usually close to the side mirror.
It gives the driver a live feed of blind spots on the vehicle’s touchscreen. The Tesla turn signal camera works alongside the vehicle’s turn signal system.
It automatically starts when the driver activates the turn signal to indicate a turn or lane change.
When it activates, it transmits a live feed to the display screen on the central console.
The driver can then have a clear view of the blind spots on the side he intends to turn or change lanes.
The live feed from the Tesla turn signal camera provides valuable information to the vehicle’s driver. This data includes other vehicles, pedestrians, or obstacles in the blind spot.
It improves the driver’s awareness of situations and helps to prevent accidents resulting from improper lane changes or turns.
It also gives the driver a broader perspective of his surroundings through a wide-angle view.
In addition to the live feed, the Tesla turn signal camera system offers additional features to enhance safety. Notable among these features is the collision warning chime.
The collision warning chime alerts the driver if an object or vehicle is close to blind spots. The turn signal camera has come to stay in Tesla vehicles.
It is a part of the brand’s innovation towards reducing blind spots and consequently improving vehicle and passenger safety.
How To Turn on the Tesla Turn Signal Camera?
Enabling the Tesla turn signal camera is an easy task. If you don’t know how to activate it, I’ll review the necessary steps.
You can turn on the feature using the short steps below:
- Go to your vehicle’s “Control” settings
- Click on “Autopilot” and
- Enable Automatic Blind Spot camera
These steps enable you to display the image from the corresponding side camera. However, you must engage the turn signal for it to work.
Tesla will continue to roll in more updates on its turn signal camera to make the feature better.
Therefore, ensure your vehicle runs on the latest software version to enjoy its full benefits.
Also, endeavor to familiarize yourself with how the turn signal camera operates. Currently, it activates when you engage the turn signal. In the future, it may operate independently.
As you’ve learned how to turn on this feature, you must utilize it whenever you need to change lanes.
Constantly monitor the display to gain visibility and make informed decisions based on the captured image.
Furthermore, learn to adapt to the feature’s limitations. You’ll learn more about these drawbacks as you read on.
How Can I Adjust My Tesla Turn Signal Camera?
When Tesla first introduced the turn signal camera, the camera feed used to be in a fixed position. However, with recent updates, you can now adjust the view’s placement.
The steps below will help you adjust the position of the turn signal camera feed on your screen:
- Follow the steps above to enable the turn signal camera
- Activate the turn signal to see the camera feed on the lower left corner of your vehicle’s touchscreen
- Hold down the image, and two additional boxes will appear
- Drag it to any of the new locations, depending on your preferences
Tesla made this adjustment available in its software version 2022.24. It is a welcome development as people have long clamored for it.
Before this update, the camera feed used to be in one spot at the bottom left corner of the display. This position made it difficult to view as the steering or driver’s hand could easily block it.
Letting the driver choose its location eliminates this problem. Drivers can now choose the one they feel is convenient from three positions.
What Are the Pros and Cons of the Tesla Turn Signal Camera?
Like other automotive innovations, the Tesla turn signal camera has pros and cons.
The table below contains these merits and demerits:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Enhanced safety | Increase in vehicle cost |
| Increased convenience | Potential false alerts |
| Parking assistance | Dependence on technology |
| Possible integration with autopilot | Drivers’ inadequacies |
| Need for constant software update. | |
| Limitations |
Let’s look into these pros and cons.
#1. Pros
The Tesla turn signal camera has several pros. Let’s delve into a proper explanatory segment to facilitate our understanding of its benefits.
#1. Enhanced Safety
The potential to enhance safety on the road is the primary benefit of the Tesla turn signal camera.
This feature gives drivers more expansive views of their surroundings before changing lanes or making turns.
This function of the turn signal camera can reduce the risks of accidents resulting from improper lane changes or turns.
#2. Increased convenience
The turn signal camera provides additional confidence to Tesla drivers. It eliminates the need to physically check for blind spots before turning or changing lanes.
It comes in handy in situations of limited visibility, as it can automatically activate when the driver signals a lane change.
#3. Parking Assistance
The turn signal camera can assist Tesla drivers with parking maneuvers. The driver can engage the turn signal when parking to utilize it.
Since they provide a more expansive view of the surroundings, they make it easier to drive into parking spots. It reduces the risk of scraping the vehicle during parking.
#4. Possible Integration with Autopilot
The turn signal camera can work in tandem with the Tesla autopilot system. This integration can improve Tesla’s driver assistance by enabling more accurate lane detection.
The camera can provide more info about the vehicle’s autonomous driving. This situation will contribute to a safer driving experience for Tesla vehicle owners.
#2. Cons
Below is an explanation of the disadvantages associated with the turn signal camera.
#1. Increase in Vehicle Cost
While the price may not be so obvious, the turn signal camera will add to the overall costs of Tesla vehicles.
Some customers who don’t prioritize the feature may find the additional cost distasteful.
#2. Potential False Alerts
The advanced nature of the camera-based system opens a wide possibility of false alerts in Tesla vehicles.
The camera may incorrectly detect the positions of vehicles or other objects and trigger unnecessary warnings or interventions.
#3. Dependence on Technology
The Tesla turn signal camera depends heavily on software technology. There is a possibility of technical glitches, which may reduce its performance and compromise passengers’ safety.
#4. Drivers’ Inadequacies
Some drivers may find it challenging to adapt to the feature and the driving habits it will introduce. The feature may even be a source of distraction to some people.
These issues limit the aim of the innovation. In worst-case scenarios, they can even lead to collisions.
#5. Need for Constant Software Update
Since the feature also comprises a software component, vehicles need constant updates to enjoy its benefits. The features of those who can’t keep up will soon become obsolete.
#6. Limitations
Despite being advanced, the Tesla turn signal camera still has a lot of limitations. That means drivers cannot wholly rely on it for guidance in all situations.
The feature relies on visual data to function. Obstruction due to dirt or snow can compromise its effectiveness. Also, it may not provide clear visibility in weather conditions like rain and fog.
Bright lights from direct sunlight or vehicle headlight can also interfere with the camera’s view. Furthermore, vehicles can block the camera.
Due to these limitations, Tesla warns in its owner’s manual that drivers always pay attention to the road. In doing so, they can take corrective actions as early as possible to avoid collisions.
Nevertheless, the turn signal camera is a great feature, and these downsides should not deter you. With time, Tesla will work to improve its accuracy.
FAQs
What’s Another Name for the Turn Signal Camera?
Other names for the turn signal camera include the blind spot and side view cameras.
Hey, I’m Michael Davis, a 35-year-old with a degree and a love for cars and tech. Since I was a kid, cars have been my thing—so much that I even thought they ran on magic beans! Fast forward, and I’ve built Vehicle Army, your one-stop-shop for easy-to-understand car facts.
