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> and regulators aren't stepping in. Regulators are the reason for this. This article conveniently omits the reason for the gigantic A-pillars - Other safety

> and regulators aren't stepping in. Regulators are the reason for this. This article conveniently omits the reason for the gigantic A-pillars - Other safety regulations that enforce a certain coverage of airbags for the passengers. We can't magically regulate this one away. These kinds of higher order consequences tend to be a really painful, gradual realization. I would gladly purchase a new vehicle with zero airbags in it if I were allowed to. Especially if the tradeoff is a 50% buff to visibility in the corners. I would also happily sign a form that locks up my vehicle's title for all eternity and prohibits any form of resale to satisfy the safety-at-all-costs extremists who caused this mess in the first place.

sottol 1y ago
I don't know that I 100% agree. I bet the A-pillar is for safety but hoods and grills are also getting so tall that some reports indicate the front blindspot can be as large as 16 feet! These grills are also more adept at killing pedestrians. I think it's partially because US safety is focused on occupants and ignores anyone outside the car afaict. What I'm seeing in the suburban example graph in the article, is that the vehicle and hood have gotten way taller... I don't know how hoods/grills this high improve safety - I assume it's mostly the opposite. But they do "look rugged/beefy" - like all trucks and SUVs have to in order to sell - just look at the difference! [1] "Millions of SUVs, trucks have dangerous front blind zone" [2] [1] https://static1.hotcarsimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2001-Chevrolet-Suburban-and-2022-Chevrolet-Suburban.jpg https://static1.hotcarsimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploa... [2] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/americas-cars-trucks-are-getting-bigger-are-front-blind-zones-children-rcna52109 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/americas-cars-trucks-ar... (or all the other writeups of this report)

sottol 1y ago

I don't know that I 100% agree. I bet the A-pillar is for safety but hoods and grills are also getting so tall that some reports indicate the front blindspot can be as large as 16 feet! These grills are also more adept at killing pedestrians. I think it's partially because US safety is focused on occupants and ignores anyone outside the car afaict. What I'm seeing in the suburban example graph in the article, is that the vehicle and hood have gotten way taller... I don't know how hoods/grills this high improve safety - I assume it's mostly the opposite. But they do "look rugged/beefy" - like all trucks and SUVs have to in order to sell - just look at the difference! [1] "Millions of SUVs, trucks have dangerous front blind zone" [2] [1] https://static1.hotcarsimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2001-Chevrolet-Suburban-and-2022-Chevrolet-Suburban.jpg https://static1.hotcarsimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploa... [2] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/americas-cars-trucks-are-getting-bigger-are-front-blind-zones-children-rcna52109 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/americas-cars-trucks-ar... (or all the other writeups of this report)