A vehicle radar system for monitoring a blind spot of a vehicle includes a radar transmitter mounted on the vehicle and a transmitting antenna coupled to the radar transmitter. The transmitting antenna transmits radiation in a pattern into a region adjacent to the vehicle, the pattern comprising a first radiation lobe and a second radiation lobe. A null region of the pattern between the first lobe and the second lobe is directed into the region approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the longitudinal axis running between a rear end of the vehicle and a front end of the vehicle and running along a line of travel of the vehicle.