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glemon

glemon

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I have been noticing this for years, but have never seen it mentioned specifically in the car magazines. Modern cars, with sloping windshields and side curtain airbags, when I am driving one and approaching an intersection, particularly an unmarked residential intersection, there are times when the car approaching from the crossing street basically "hides" behind the wide sloping A pillar for the windshield until we are in very close proximity. After a few close calls I have learned to adjust and basically look closer and peak around a bit, but is that just me or has anyone else noticed it. If I am not the only one who perceives this I wonder if any research has been done on limited visions contribution to accidents.

The general design of cars seems to be leaning towards slab sided tanks with a limited view turret to look out of, they perform better in crash tests that way, but the best crash safety design is never having to utilize the crash safety design because you don't get in one. On the back end the views are so bad that back up cameras are becoming a common feature.

I miss the "open greenhouse" design of some of the Hondas and BMWs and such of the 70s and 80s, even my first generation RX-7, a fastback hatch, had a pretty open view out the back, drive what is arguably its spiritual successor in some ways, the FR-S/BRZ, and you can't say the same thing, the rear view is practically non-existent, and it may seem like a quibbling point, but it is one of the things that turned me off about the car.

Of course you can't beat an LBC with the top down for an unobstructed, panoramic view, so maybe I grew up spoiled.
 
I've experienced the exact thing in my 2011 Nissan Altima. Cars can "hide" behind that sloping A pillar.

Something I noticed on my cross country trip in the 1960 Mercedes-Benz: I never experienced the problem, as the A pillar is vertical.

Tom
 
Was excited to test drive BMW's new 435XI, but then was really disappointed by how large and distracting the "A" pillar is. For me it was enough of a negative to rule it out of consideration.
 
Since you can't see they now add blind spot warning devices.
I had a BMW 2002 that was like driving a clear glass jar.
 
It is a problem, and has been noticed by others, it was the subject of a discussion on a road safety group of which I am a member on LinkedIn. I'm sure that once a few lawsuits start rolling in manufacturers will make efforts to address the issue.
 
Although the additional airbags probably make the cars safer in a crash, it is interesting and I suppose sadly inevitable that manufacturers will look to up there safety rating based on government crash tests "5 star safety rating"!! And not look at the comprehensive issue, which would include addressing design issues making a crash more likely to happen. By the way I had a BMW 2002 until recently as well, a few close calls (not really close, but cars "surprising me" as I approached intersections and looked both ways) with the wife's Honda Fit and the marked contrast to that experience and driving the cool old BMW is what has gotten me interested in this issue.
 
Looks like we're not the only ones who notice:

https://wardsauto.com/ar/roof_standards_expansive_110713

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_spot_(vehicle)#Effects_of_A-pillar_angle_on_visibility

https://articles.sae.org/9946/

https://www-esv.nhtsa.dot.gov/Proceedings/22/files/22ESV-000105.pdf

As one reference says, "There is a cynical adage in the motor industry that driver visibility is essential because “people like to see what they are going to hit.”

Edit: the "transparent" A-pillar:

https://www.autoblog.com/2014/12/15...-ghost-car-navigation-systems-video-official/
 
Wow. Hadn't seen the transparent A-pillar by Jaguar Land Rover. That is really neat.
 
My Honda Fit (Jazz) has this same problem with the A pillar design. It is not just the air bags though. Modern safety regs have really required the roof to be much stronger to prevent collapse in a roll over. That strength has to be built in somewhere.
 
Transparent aluminum Scotty!
 
In my Lexus, the SC430, I had no vision when backing out of a parallel space until I was about 3/4 into the roadway. I used to creep out literally a few feet at a time. If I didn't hear a horn I knew I was good to go. Finally had a back-up camera installed. It was worth the dollars.
 
I was working at a Toyota dealer when the new FJ Cruisers came out! they looked fantastic to me. I really wanted one, but was appalled when I got to drive one. Visibility all around was awful! talk about peering out of tank slits!!! They were all touting it's off-road capability, steep approach and departure angles and traction control, and all I could think of was not being able to see the trail. I would be petrified to drive one of those in the woods. Ill stick to my old CJ5 with no doors.
 
These had good visibility! drew a lot of attention at the time and quite a few jokes!:highly_amused: AMC Pacer.
View attachment 35813
 
Our MGB GT has excellent visibility,but it's hard the see around the sea of suv's & jacked-up pickups. - Doug
 
Doug - it's not just your MG! My 2011 Nissan Altima has excellent visibility for the most part. But ... those massive SUVs and "oversize" pickup trucks do cause their share of problems.

Interesting bit on radio today about how trucks are the money makers for most USA car manufacturers. Since the 1980s, the "average" pickup truck has grown in size by leaps and bounds, with all sorts of bling, oversize and/or double rear wheels, and more chrome than passenger cars. Some auto analysts say it's the latest incarnation of automobile "maleness", which used to be sports cars. Now instead, it's giant pickup trucks - that are always clean and never carry cargo!

Tom
 
All three of the cars I own are over forty years old and with the two newer ones visibility is excellent. In my 52 pick-up forward visibility is good but the view out the rear windows is very limited. The one in the picture is not mine but does show how small and high the windows in the back of the cab are. I can also say that all three turn heads when I am out and about.

images.duckduckgo.com.jpg
 
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