"It's supposed to beep"

Was outside work a couple of minutes ago enjoying the sunshine. I saw one of my colleagues get into her mini cooper, she puts the roof down. I say to myself "I hope she pays attention to that Celica GT right behind her before reversing". I look around, admiring the nice weather, when I hear this big crunch.

Popped over to see her to inspect the damage when she says "the car is supposed to beep to alert me when reversing". I said, to myself, "the driver is supposed to look behind before reversing".

Ouch.

Women drivers!

Sad but true...

I've said this before, when I had a car with reversing sensors I got lazy and started to rely on them. I'd just look in the driver's door mirror and wait for the beep. Glad to be without them now.

That car had terrible rear visibility, and that's something which needs addressing in future designs.

What used to get me was a lexis IS that my partner used to have. Must remember that stupid beep in reverse is not a parking sensor....

People just put blind faith in their technology these days. I suspect that those with auto activating lights would drive around in the dark if the things failed....

Not in my case, though I did find that I tend to forget to turn off the lights in other cars I drive, so I've gone back to manual mode.

I didn't get from the OP is whether the Mini actually had a parking sensor that just didn't work or whether she just thought it should have (from a previous car or something)?

i have both rear and front parking sensors and after having my car 2 months wish i could turn them off.they just annoy me to be honest. understand some people who have issues parking might use them but normal driver should be able to complete most manoeuvres without need a chorus of different beeps.