Mazda MX-5 RF (2017 year). Instruction - part 16

4–106

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

*Some models.

 Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) 

*

              The  LDWS  system  noti

¿ es the driver that the vehicle may be deviating from its lane.

  The system detects the white or yellow lines on the traf

¿ c lane using the Forward Sensing 

Camera (FSC) and if it determines that the vehicle may be deviating from its lane, it noti

¿ es 

the driver by 

À ashing the LDWS warning light and activating the LDWS warning beep, and 

by the multi-information display (vehicles with multi-information display).
  Use the LDWS when you drive the vehicle on roads with white or yellow lines.
  Refer to Forward Sensing Camera on page  4-129 .

Forward Sensing Camera 
(FSC)

  The warning light illuminates when the system has a malfunction.
  Refer to Warning Indication/Warning Lights on page  4-42 .

 WARNING

 Do not use the LDWS under the following conditions: 
 The system may not operate adequately according to the actual driving conditions, 
resulting in an accident. 

 

  Driving on roads with tight curves. 

 

  Driving under bad weather conditions (rain, fog, and snow). 

 The functions of the LDWS have limitations: 
 Always stay on course using the steering wheel and drive with care. The system is not 
designed to compensate for a driver’s lack of caution and if you rely too much on the 
LDWS it could lead to an accident. The driver is responsible for assuring lane changes 
and other manoeuvres. Always pay attention to the direction in which the vehicle is 
travelling and the vehicle’s surroundings. 

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4–107

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

 CAUTION

 Do not modify the suspension. If the vehicle height or the damping force of the 
suspensions is changed, the LDWS may not operate correctly. 

 NOTE

 

  If your vehicle deviates from its traf

¿ c lane, the LDWS operates (warning sound and 

indicator light). Steer the vehicle adequately to drive the vehicle to the centre of the 
lane.

 

  When the direction indicator lever is operated for a lane change, the LDWS warning 

is automatically cancelled. The LDWS warning becomes operable when the direction 
indicator lever is returned and the system detects the white or yellow lines. 

 

  If the steering wheel, accelerator pedal, or brake pedal is operated abruptly and the 

vehicle moves close to a white or yellow line, the system determines that the driver is 
making a lane change and the LDWS warning is automatically cancelled. 

 

  The LDWS may not operate during the period immediately after the vehicle has 

deviated from its lane and the LDWS has operated, or the vehicle deviates from its 
lane repeatedly within a short period of time. 

 

  The LDWS does not operate if it does not detect the white or yellow lines of the traf

¿ c 

lane.

/:A



4–108

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

 NOTE

 

  Under the following conditions, the LDWS may not be able to detect white or yellow 

lines correctly and the LDWS may not operate correctly. 

 

  If an object placed on the instrument panel is re

À ected in the windscreen and picked 

up by the camera.

 

  Heavy luggage is loaded in the luggage compartment the vehicle is inclined.

 

  The tyre pressures are not adjusted to the speci

¿ ed pressure.

 

  When the vehicle is driven on the entry and exit to or from the rest area or tollgate of 

a highway.

 

  The white or yellow lines are less visible because of dirt or paint 

À aking.

 

  The vehicle ahead is running near a white or yellow line and the line is less visible.

 

  A white or yellow line is less visible because of bad weather (rain, fog, or snow).

 

  The vehicle is driven on a temporary lane or section with a closed lane due to 

construction.

 

  A misleading line is picked up on the road such as a temporary line for construction, 

or because of shade, lingering snow, or grooves 

¿ lled with water.

 

  The surrounding brightness suddenly changes such as when entering or exiting a 

tunnel.

 

  The illumination of the headlights is weakened because of dirt or the optical axis is 

deviated.

 

  The windscreen is dirty or foggy.

 

  Back-light is re

À ecting from the road surface.

 

  The road surface is wet and shiny after rain, or there are puddles on the road.

 

  The shade of a guardrail parallel to a white or yellow line is on the road.

 

  The width of a lane is excessively narrow or wide.

 

  The road is excessively uneven.

 

  The vehicle is shaken after hitting a road bump.

 

  There are two or more adjacent white or yellow lines.

 

  There are various road markings or lane markings of various shapes near an 

intersection.

/:A



4–109

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

 When the System Operates

             1.   The  system  goes  on  operation  standby 

when the LDWS switch is pressed and 
the LDWS OFF indicator light in the 
instrument cluster turns off.

   2.   Drive the vehicle in the centre of the 

driving lane while the LDWS OFF 
indicator light is turned off. The system 
becomes operational when all of the 
following conditions are met.



 



 The vehicle is driven in the centre 

of the driving lane with the white 
or yellow lines on the left and right 
sides, or on either side.



 



 The vehicle speed is 65 km/h (41 

mph) or faster.



 



 The vehicle is driven on a straight 

road or road with gentle curves.

   

The LDWS does not operate in the 
following cases:



 



 The system cannot detect white or 

yellow lines.



 



 The vehicle speed is less than 60 

km/h (37 mph).



 



 The vehicle is making a sharp turn.



 



 The vehicle is making a curve at an 

inadequate speed.

 NOTE

 

  The LDWS does not operate until the 

system detects a white or yellow line 
on either the left or right. 

 

  When the system detects a white 

or yellow line on one side only, the 
system will activate the warning only 
when the vehicle deviates on the side 
where the white or yellow line is 
being detected. 

 

  The distance and warning sensitivity 

(likelihood of a warning) which 
the system uses to determine the 
possibility of a lane departure can be 
changed.



  Refer to Personalisation Features on 

page 9-10 . 

  Auto  cancel

    In the following cases, the LDWS cancels 
automatically and the LDWS warning 
light in the instrument cluster turns on.

 

 The temperature inside the camera is 

high or low.

 

 The windscreen around the camera is 

foggy.

 

 The windscreen around the camera is 

blocked by an obstruction, causing poor 
forward visibility.

  The LDWS is enabled automatically when 
the operation conditions are met, and the 
LDWS warning light turns off.

/:A



4–110

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

  Auto  cancel  warning

    When  the  following  operations  are 
performed, the LDWS determines that 
the driver intends to make a lane change 
and the LDWS warning is cancelled 
automatically. The LDWS is enabled 
automatically after the driver performs the 
operation.

 

 The steering wheel is operated abruptly.

 

 The brake pedal is depressed abruptly.

 

 The accelerator pedal is depressed 

abruptly.

 

 The direction indicator lever is operated 

(after the direction indicator lever is 
returned, the LDWS may not operate for 
about 3 seconds which is the period of 
time required to make a lane correction).

 NOTE

 After about 60 seconds have elapsed 
with the direction indicator lever left 
operating, the LDWS warning may 
operate if the vehicle is close to a white 
or yellow line. 

 Cancelling the System

    Press the LDWS OFF switch to cancel the 
LDWS. The LDWS OFF indicator light 
turns on.

Vehicle lane display (vehicles with 
multi-information display)
  The vehicle lane lines are no longer 
indicated in the multi-information display 
when the LDWS is cancelled.

 NOTE

 When the ignition is switched OFF, the 
LDWS becomes operational the next 
time the ignition switched ON. 

/:A



4–111

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

 Lane  Departure  Warning

    If the system determines that there is the 
possibility of a lane departure, the LDWS 
warning beep activates and the LDWS 
warning light 

À ashes. Operate the steering 

wheel appropriately and steer the vehicle 
to the centre of the lane.
  For vehicles equipped with the multi-
information display and the active driving 
display, the colour of the lane line in the 
direction which the system determined 
that the vehicle may be deviating from its 
lane changes from white to amber and the 
vehicle lane line 

À ashes.

Indication on display

 NOTE

 

  If the LDWS warning sound is set 

to rumble 

*1

 , the sound will be heard 

from the vehicle speaker on the side 
which the system determined the 
vehicle may be deviating from its 
lane.

 

  It may be dif

¿ cult to hear the LDWS 

warning beep depending on the 
surrounding conditions such as 
outside noise. 

 

  The volume of the LDWS warning 

sound can be changed. 



  Refer to Personalisation Features on 

page 9-10 . 

 

  The type of warning sound (rumble 

*1

 /

beep) on the LDWS can be changed. 



  Refer to Personalisation Features on 

page 9-10 . 

 *1  A rumble strip is a series of grooves 

in the road pavement surface 
positioned at speci

¿ c intervals, 

and when the vehicle passes over 
it a vibration and rumble sound is 
produced which alerts the driver that 
the vehicle is departing from the lane. 

  

The rumble sound is a reproduction 
of the sound which occurs when a 
vehicle passes over a rumble strip. 



Rumble

Groove

/:A



4–112

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

*Some models.

 Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) System 

*

              The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) is designed to assist the driver in checking the area to the 
rear of the vehicle on both sides during lane changes by alerting the driver to the presence of 
vehicles approaching from the rear in an adjacent lane.
  The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) detects vehicles approaching from the rear while 
travelling in the forward direction at a speed of 30 km/h (19 mph) or faster and turns on 
the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights equipped on the door mirrors depending 
on the conditions. If the direction indicator lever is operated to signal a lane change in 
the direction in which the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning light is illuminated, 
the system warns the driver of a vehicle in the detection area by 

À ashing the Blind Spot 

Monitoring (BSM) warning light and activating a beep sound.
  The detection area on this system covers the driving lanes on both sides of the vehicle and 
from the rear part of the doors to about 50 m (164 ft) behind the vehicle.

Detection areas

Your vehicle

 WARNING

 Always check the surrounding area visually before making an actual lane change: 
 The system is only designed to assist you in checking for vehicles at your rear when 
making a lane change. Due to certain limitations with the operation of this system, the 
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning light may not 

À ash or it might be delayed even 

though a vehicle is in an adjacent driving lane. Always make it your responsibility as a 
driver to check the rear. 

/:A



4–113

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

 NOTE

 

  The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) will operate when all of the following conditions 

are met: 

 

  The ignition is switched ON.

 

  The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) switch is pressed and the Blind Spot Monitoring 

(BSM) OFF indicator light in the instrument cluster is turned off.

 

  The vehicle speed is about 30 km/h (19 mph) or faster.    

 

  The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) will not operate under the following circumstances. 

 

  The vehicle speed falls below about 25 km/h (15 mph) even though the Blind Spot 

Monitoring (BSM) OFF indicator light is turned off.

 

  The shift lever (manual transmission)/selector lever (automatic transmission) is 

shifted to reverse (R) and the vehicle is reversing. 

 

  In the following cases, the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) OFF indicator light turns 

on and operation of the system is stopped. If the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) OFF 
indicator light remains illuminated, have the vehicle inspected at an Authorised Mazda 
Dealer as soon as possible. 

 

  Some problem with the system including the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning 

lights is detected.

 

  A large deviation in the installation position of a radar sensor (rear) on the vehicle 

has occurred.

 

  There is a large accumulation of snow or ice on the rear bumper near a radar sensor 

(rear). Remove any snow, ice or mud on the rear bumper.

 

  Driving on snow-covered roads for long periods.

 

  The temperature near the radar sensors (rear) becomes extremely hot due to driving 

for long periods on slopes during the summer.

 

  The battery voltage has decreased.    

 

  Under the following conditions, the radar sensors (rear) cannot detect target objects or 

it may be dif

¿ cult to detect them. 

 

  A vehicle is in the detection area at the rear in an adjacent driving lane but it does 

not approach. The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) determines the condition based on 
radar detection data.

 

  A vehicle is travelling alongside your vehicle at nearly the same speed for an 

extended period of time.

 

  Vehicles approaching in the opposite direction.

 

  A vehicle in an adjacent driving lane is attempting to pass your vehicle.

 

  A vehicle is in an adjacent lane on a road with extremely wide driving lanes. The 

detection area of the radar sensors (rear) is set at the road width of expressways. 

/:A



4–114

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

 NOTE

 

  In the following cases, the activation of the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning 

lights and the warning beep may not occur or they may be delayed. 

 

  A vehicle makes a lane change from a driving lane two lanes over to an adjacent 

lane.

 

  Driving on steep slopes.

 

  Crossing the summit of a hill or mountain pass.

 

  The turning radius is small (making a sharp turn, turning at intersections).

 

  When there is a difference in the height between your driving lane and the adjacent 

lane.

 

  Directly after pressing the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) switch and the system 

becomes operable. 

 

  If the road width is extremely narrow, vehicles two lanes over may be detected. 

The detection area of the radar sensors (rear) is set according to the road width of 
expressways.

 

  The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights may turn on in reaction to stationary 

objects on the road or the roadside such as guardrails, tunnels, sidewalls, and parked 
vehicles.

Objects such as guardrails and concrete walls 
running alongside the vehicle.

Places where the width between guardrails or 
walls on each side of the vehicle narrows.

The walls at the entrance and exits of tunnels, 
turnouts.

 

  A Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning light may 

À ash or the warning beep may be 

activated several times when making a turn at a city intersection. 

 

  Turn off the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) while pulling a trailer or while an accessory 

such as a bicycle carrier is installed to the rear of the vehicle. Otherwise, the radar’s 
radio waves will be blocked causing the system to not operate normally. 

/:A



4–115

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

 NOTE

 

  In the following cases, it may be dif

¿ cult to view the illumination/À ashing of the Blind 

Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights equipped on the door mirrors. 

 

  Snow or ice is adhering to the door mirrors.

 

  The door glass is fogged or covered in snow, frost or dirt.    

 

  The system switches to the Rear Cross Traf

¿ c Alert function when the shift lever 

(manual transmission) or the selector lever (automatic transmission) is shifted to the 
reverse (R) position. 



  Refer to Rear Cross Traf

¿ c Alert (RCTA) on page  4-119 . 

 Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) Warning Lights/Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) 

Warning Beep

    The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) or Rear Cross Traf

¿ c Alert (RCTA) system noti¿ es the 

driver of the presence of vehicles in adjacent lanes to the rear of your vehicle using the 
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights and the warning beep while the systems are 
operational.

  Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights

    The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights are equipped on the left and right door 
mirrors. The warning lights turn on when a vehicle approaching from the rear in an adjacent 
lane is detected.

  When the ignition is switched ON, the malfunction warning light turns on momentarily and 
then turns off after a few seconds.

/:A



4–116

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

  Forward driving (Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system operation)

    The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system detects vehicles approaching from the rear and 
turns on the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights equipped on the door mirrors 
according to the conditions. Additionally, while a Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning 
light is illuminated, if the direction indicator lever is operated to signal a turn in the direction 
in which the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning light is illuminated, the Blind Spot 
Monitoring (BSM) warning light 

À ashes.

  Reverse driving (Rear Cross Traf

¿ c Alert (RCTA) system operation)

    The  Rear  Cross  Traf

¿ c Alert (RCTA) system detects vehicles approaching from the left and 

right of your vehicle and 

À ashes the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights.

  Function for cancelling illumination dimmer

    If the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights turn on when the position lights are 
turned on, the brightness of the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights is dimmed.
  If the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights are dif

¿ cult to see due to glare from 

surrounding brightness when travelling on snow-covered roads or under foggy conditions, 
press the dimmer cancellation button to cancel the dimmer and increase the brightness of 
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights when they turn on.
  Refer to Instrument Panel Illumination on page  4-28 .

  Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning beep

    The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning beep is activated simultaneously with the 
À ashing of a Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning light.

/:A



4–117

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

 Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) OFF 

Indicator Light

 

 When the ignition is switched ON, the 

malfunction warning light turns on 
momentarily and then turns off after a 
few seconds.

 

 The BSM OFF Indicator Light 

illuminates when the Blind Spot 
Monitoring (BSM) switch is pressed 
to turn off the Blind Spot Monitoring 
(BSM) and Rear Cross Traf

¿ c Alert 

(RCTA) systems.

 

 A malfunction in the system may 

be indicated under the following 
conditions. Have your vehicle inspected 
at an Authorised Mazda Dealer.



 



 The light does not turn on when the 

ignition is switched ON.



 



 The light remains turned on even if the 

Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) switch 
is operated.



 



 It turns on while driving the vehicle.

 Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) 

Switch

  When the Blind Spot Monitoring 
(BSM) switch is pressed, the Blind Spot 
Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross Traf

¿ c 

Alert (RCTA) systems are turned off 
and the BSM OFF Indicator Light in the 
instrument cluster turns on.
  If the switch is pressed again, the Blind 
Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross 
Traf

¿ c Alert (RCTA) systems become 

operable and the BSM OFF Indicator 
Light turns off.

/:A



4–118

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

 NOTE

 

  When the ignition is switched off, 

the condition before the system 
was turned off is maintained. 
For example, if the ignition is 
switched OFF while the Blind 
Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear 
Cross Traf

¿ c Alert (RCTA) systems 

are operational, the Blind Spot 
Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross 
Traf

¿ c Alert (RCTA) systems remain 

operational the next time the ignition 
is switched ON. 

 

  The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) 

and Rear Cross Traf

¿ c Alert (RCTA) 

systems are turned off when the 
battery is disconnected such as 
when the battery terminals or fuses 
have been removed and re-installed. 
To turn the Blind Spot Monitoring 
(BSM) and Rear Cross Traf

¿ c Alert 

(RCTA) systems back on, press 
the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) 
switch.

/:A



4–119

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

*Some models.

 Rear  Cross  Traf

¿ c Alert (RCTA) 

*

              The Rear Cross Traf

¿ c Alert (RCTA) system is designed to assist the driver in checking the 

area to the rear of the vehicle on both sides while the vehicle is reversing by alerting the 
driver to the presence of vehicles approaching the rear of the vehicle.
  The  Rear  Cross  Traf

¿ c Alert (RCTA) system detects vehicles approaching from the left and 

right sides of the vehicle while the vehicle is being reversed out of a parking space, and 
noti

¿ es the driver of possible danger using the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights 

and the warning buzzer.

Detection areas

Your vehicle 

  Rear  Cross  Traf

¿ c Alert (RCTA) operation

     1.   The  Rear  Cross  Traf

¿ c Alert (RCTA) system operates when the shift lever (manual 

transmission) or the selector lever (automatic transmission) is shifted to the reverse (R) 
position.

   2.   If there is the possibility of a collision with an approaching vehicle, the Blind 

Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning light 

À ashes and the warning beep is activated 

simultaneously.

/:A



4–120

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

 WARNING

 Always check the surrounding area visually before actually putting the vehicle in 
reverse:
 The system is only designed to assist you in checking for vehicles at the rear when 
putting the vehicle in reverse. Due to certain limitations with the operation of this 
system, the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning light may not 

À ash or it might be 

delayed even though a vehicle is behind your vehicle. Always make it your responsibility 
as a driver to check the rear. 

 NOTE

 

  In the following cases, the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) OFF indicator light turns 

on and operation of the system is stopped. If the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) OFF 
indicator light remains illuminated, have the vehicle inspected at an Authorised Mazda 
Dealer as soon as possible. 

 

  Some problem with the system including the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning 

lights has occurred.

 

  A large deviation in the installation position of a radar sensor (rear) on the vehicle 

has occurred.

 

  There is a large accumulation of snow or ice on the rear bumper near a radar sensor 

(rear).

 

  Driving on snow-covered roads for long periods.

 

  The temperature near the radar sensors becomes extremely hot due to driving for 

long periods on slopes during the summer.

 

  The battery voltage has decreased.     

/:A



4–121

When Driving

i-ACTIVSENSE

 NOTE

 

  Under the following conditions, the radar sensors (rear) cannot detect target objects or 

it may be dif

¿ cult to detect them. 

 

  The vehicle speed when reversing is about 10 km/h (6.3 mph) or faster.

 

  The radar sensor (rear) detection area is obstructed by a nearby wall or parked 

vehicle. (Reverse the vehicle to a position where the radar sensor detection area is no 
longer obstructed.)

Your vehicle

 

  A vehicle is approaching directly from the rear of your vehicle.

Your vehicle

 

  The vehicle is parked on a slant.

Your vehicle

 

  Directly after pressing the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) switch and the system 

becomes operable. 

 

  In the following cases, it may be dif

¿ cult to view the illumination/À ashing of the Blind 

Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning lights equipped on the door mirrors. 

 

  Snow or ice adheres to the door mirrors.

 

  The door glass is fogged or covered in snow, frost or dirt.    

 

  Turn off the Rear Cross Traf

¿ c Alert (RCTA) system while pulling a trailer or while 

an accessory such as a bicycle carrier is installed to the rear of the vehicle. Otherwise, 
the radio waves emitted by the radar will be blocked causing the system to not operate 
normally. 

/:A