3 ms·
I wonder how many more wrecks happen due to the reduction of visibility caused by extra wide columns needed to fit the side curtains.
by njarboe 9y ago
I wonder how many more wrecks happen due to the reduction of visibility caused by extra wide columns needed to fit the side curtains.
- lostlogin 9y agoThe need for the side columns to have a degree of strength is a bigger problem for visibility that the bulk added by side curtains. Driving '60 and 70's cars was great for visibility due to the amount of glass and narrow pillars. The risk of dying in a relatively low speed accident was less ideal.
- njarboe 9y agoMy girlfriend's 2006? Subaru Legacy had thinner columns than her 2013 model. Not sure by how much, but it was very noticeable at first and I still find I sometimes miss seeing things in the new car that I never had a problem with in the old one. Maybe they are wider now for strength and side air bags. In any case, maximizing cars for crash-test-dummy preservation may not minimize for human harm due to car accidents. With automatic cars this may be not be a very big problem, but they are still a ways off, I think.
- dsfyu404ed 9y agoWell, when back over accidents became more common because the safety arms race gave vehicles rear visibility only slightly better than a Panzer the government mandated backup cameras. Self driving cars will probably take over before "front blind spot detection" becomes a thing.