Dead angles are increasing in modern cars, reveals new study.
The dead angles of conductor are increasing consistently, especially in the latest models.
The conclusion comes in a study recently by the US Transport Department Volpe Center, and shows how changes in vehicle size and design changes are making direct vision of what is immediately in front of the car.
The analyzed front visibility in six of the best selling car models in the United States: the Honda CR-V, the Honda Agreemento Chevrolet Suburban, o Toyota Camry, o Ford F-150 e o Jeep Grand Cherokee, also comparing versions released between 1997 and 2023.
Using a new visual measurement tool, consisting of a smartphone and a three -piece structure, the researchers evaluated how much of the area up to 10 meters ahead of the vehicle was visible from the driver’s seat (this distance was chosen by corresponding to the 16 km/h braking distance – a speed at which the dead angles are often accident factor).
The results were clear: all models analyzed showed a significant increase in front blind zones over time. For example, 1997 Honda CR-V drivers could see 68% of the area up to 10 meters in front of the vehicle; In the 2022 model, this visibility descended to only 28%, cites the. Chevrolet Suburban showed a similar trend, from 56% visibility in the 2000 to 28% model in the 2023 model.
The cars have increased significantly in size in recent decades, which has contributed clear to the reduction of visibility. According to IIHS, the average light vehicle in the US is now 25 cm longer, 20 cm higher, 10 cm wider and weighs 450 kg more than 30 years ago.
Certain design elements are also to blame in the registry office. Here it refers to the increase in the size of the vertical supports by the windshields, the side mirrors and their carcasses. Although there are rules that stipulate minimal sizes for some safety components, there are no maximum limits.
Manufacturers have increasingly responded to this problem with the introduction of Advanced driving assistance technologies. Chevrolet, for example, brought systems such as automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, 360 -degree vision cameras and cyclist alerts.
Still, some experts warn that, despite the usefulness of these systems, they do not replace the need for good direct visibility. And the consequences are serious, because vehicles with higher hoods are more likely to cause fatal injuries to pawns.
