Drivers in the '90s had the ability to see twice as much as they can in certain SUVs today | Carscoops

      Fatalities among pedestrians and cyclists are rising sharply, with inadequate front-end visibility potentially playing a role.

      18 hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that visibility in certain modern SUVs has decreased by over 50% since the 1990s.

      The CR-V and Suburban experienced the most significant losses, while sedans showed little change.

      High hoods and large mirrors may be contributing to increased risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

      As fatalities among pedestrians and cyclists have surged (with increases of 37 and 42 percent, respectively, over the past 25 years), researchers are examining changes on the road more closely. A particularly noticeable factor is visibility.

      With the increase in size and style of vehicles, the ability to see from them has diminished. A recent study closely investigates the extent of this limited view and offers a standardized measurement method.

      The latest research, conducted by the IIHS, analyzed 17 vehicles from six brands to assess how blind spots have changed over the years. The study included various generations of the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Suburban, Honda Accord and CR-V, Toyota Camry, and Jeep Grand Cherokee from 1997 to 2023. A 360-degree camera system was used to simulate the driver’s perspective, revealing troubling results.

      A Closer Examination of Driver Blind Spots

      In a radius of 10 meters, visibility for SUVs decreased by as much as 58% over the years. The F-150's visibility dropped by only 17%, although the IIHS notes it was already quite poor in 1997. In contrast, cars experienced an overall visibility reduction of less than 8%.

      “The overall decline in visibility for this limited group of models is alarming. We need to determine if this reflects a broader trend that might have contributed to the recent increase in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities,” stated IIHS President David Harkey. “This study also demonstrates that the new method created by IIHS provides a simple and repeatable way to evaluate driver visibility,” he added.

      What the Data Indicates

      Delving deeper into the findings reveals noteworthy insights. The Honda CR-V's visibility decreased more than any other model. Drivers of the 1997 CR-V could see 68% of the area 10 meters ahead, while the 2022 model allows only 28% visibility. Similarly, Suburban drivers’ visibility dropped from 56% in 1997 to just 28% in 2023.

      According to the IIHS, tall hoods and oversized side mirrors significantly contribute to this issue, obstructing the frontal view and areas close to the car’s corners, complicating the ability for drivers to notice nearby pedestrians or cyclists.

      Sedans Show Little Variation

      The smallest visibility reductions were recorded for the Accord and Camry, where the changes were so minor they fell within the margin of error. “These findings are noteworthy, especially since we already recognize that the percentage of SUVs in the U.S. fleet increased significantly during this period,” remarked IIHS Senior Research Engineer Becky Mueller, who was instrumental in the new mapping technique and co-authored the Volpe Center study.

      “If further research confirms that these changes indicate a general trend, it would imply that diminishing visibility in SUVs has exacerbated the issues associated with taller, blunt-nosed vehicles that the IIHS has previously documented.”

      Ultimately, this data highlights that design choices for vehicles, particularly those that impair driver visibility, come with significant drawbacks. Increased focus on this issue may encourage a renewed commitment to designing vehicles that not only look striking but also enhance drivers’ ability to see the road ahead.