Citroën's specially designed narrow windscreen pillars

Car design changes have created a new driver blind spot that could be contributing to thousands of accidents a year with cyclists and motorcyclists most at risk. Now RoadSafe is backing a campaign calling on the European Commission to update its 30-year-old legislation on the design of vehicle A-pillars, the construction of which on some models are capable of hiding an entire car from view.

The campaign, which is being led by Autoglass, calls on the UK government to create an “A-spot taskforce”, comprised of key industry experts, to help push the A-spot issue up the European safety agenda. Currently, new vehicles must conform to the 1977 EC Directive on vehicle A-pillars before they can go on sale in Europe. The government has commissioned research into A-pillar vision restriction levels by Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), the findings of which are yet to be published.

The call follows new research by MIRA, previously the Motor Industry Research Association, which revealed that thickening A-pillar design on new vehicles has created a blind spot – the A-spot – which could obscure objects of up to 4.5 metres wide in a driver’s field of vision. The A-pillars are the posts either side of the windscreen on a car. Tests included a calculation of how much the A-pillars would impair driver vision of objects 23 metres away, the stopping distance required when travelling at 30mph.

Sport utility vehicles performed particularly badly in tests, with the A-spot on the Grand Jeep Cherokee measuring 4.5 metres. Other poor performers included the Land Rover Freelander and Hyundai Santa Fe (4.1m) and Land Rover Discovery (3.4m), while the Vauxhall Astra and Nissan X-Trail each had an A-spot of 2.9m and the Ford Mondeo, one of 2.7m. In all cases, the blind spot is enough to hide a cyclist, motorcyclist or even a small car, such as the Smart, from the view of the driver.

In the same tests the Audi A4 had an A-spot of just 30cms, the Peugeot 307 had one of 60cms – the only two below one metre – while the 2006 Ford Fiesta had a blind spot of 2.4m, exactly double that of the 1998 derivative. Researchers found that the average A-spot width for family saloon and executive cars was 1.9m, equivalent to four pedestrians and a moped; for a family hatchback it was 2.2m, equivalent to a motorcycle; for MPVs it was 3.4m and for 4x4s it was 3.6m, equivalent to a Ford Fiesta. In fact, says Autoglass, the Department for Transport’s own research recently revealed that 21% of accidents at junctions listed drivers saying “looked but failed to see”, as a major contributory factor to the crash.

Manufacturers say they are aware of the issue and are attempting to solve the A-spot problem by looking at alternative designs, such as transparent pillars. Indeed, the Volvo Safety Concept Car (SCC), which has been seen at numerous motor shows around the world since its launch in 2001, had “superior visibility” as its main theme and featured see-through A-pillars. However, while many of the SCC’s features have already debuted on production, models see-through A-pillars have not.

Looked but failed to see

A Volvo spokesman says: “See-through A-pillars were one of the most popular features on the SCC. But they have not been introduced on any model, although I wouldn’t rule the technology out in the future. A number of issues around cost and strength need to be addressed.”

However, perhaps the first manufacturer to tackle the problem on a production model is Citroën. Its new C4 Picasso MPV, which goes on sale in the UK early next year, has a combination of the largest sunroof and side windows in its class, as well as specially-designed narrow windscreen pillars. Citroën says that its “visiospace” initiative provides an “outstanding field of vision for all occupants” and specifically enhances driveability while also making a valuable contribution to safety.

The French company has considerably reduced the front three-quarter blind spot by doubling the angle of visibility at the front and providing the best side and rear three-quarter vision in its segment. The design means the C4 Picasso is the first production model to feature as standard a wide-angle panoramic windscreen that doubles visibility in front of the vehicle. The angle of vertical visibility (from the lowest point to the highest point of the windscreen) is 70°, compared with 35° in a conventional MPV. To free up the field of vision, the roof cross-member has been pushed back by more than 30cm compared with an average compact MPV, without compromising the stiffness of the body structure.

A spokesman adds: “The C4 Picasso also boasts the best front three-quarter visibility in its category with the largest quarter lights (each with an area of 12 cm²) ever seen on a compact MPV to date, and narrow windscreen pillars. This outstanding visibility enhances driveability while also making a valuable contribution to safety by considerably reducing the front three-quarter blind spot.”

The research shows that A-pillar blind spots on some 4x4s are twice as large as on some family saloons and, as a result, pedestrians hit by 4x4 vehicles are twice as likely to die as those hit by hatchback or saloon cars. RoadSafe director Adrian Walsh says: “While many manufacturers have individual engineering development programmes in place to tackle the A-spot issue, it’s time for them to come together with other industry professionals and find an effective solution.

“Drivers have a responsibility to familiarise themselves with their vehicle and must ensure their own safety and that of their passengers. It’s also important to watch out for other road users, looking out for both rear and forward-facing blind spots. The latest research shows that A-pillar blind spots need to be acknowledged, especially on 4x4 vehicles. “The research sends a stark message to motorists.

Motorcyclists are particularly at risk as drivers may not be able to see them if they are hidden behind the A-spot

Experienced drivers are well aware of the traditional blind spots to the rear of a car, but this represents a timely reminder that many new vehicles have a blind spot at the front as well – caused by the A-pillars. “Ultimately, the driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle when on the road and needs to take time to check that nothing is hidden from view. Over 32,000 people were killed or seriously injured on UK roads last year, and a simple A-spot check could contribute to reducing this unnecessary toll, with motorcyclists and cyclists most likely to benefit.”

Autoglass has written to the Department for Transport in a bid to kick-start revision of the EC directive. Managing director Nigel Doggett says that while car manufacturers had worked hard to improve the structural safety of vehicles by using thicker, stronger and more steeply angled A-pillars, the move had had a “very detrimental effect” on the front field of vision for drivers. He says: “A new blind spot has been created that thousands of motorists simply aren’t aware of. It’s crucial for drivers to check that nothing is hidden from view behind the A-pillars, both for their own safety and that of other road users. The A-spot can obscure entire vehicles and there is currently not enough being done to find a solution to the problem.”

He says that the A-pillar blind spot on 4x4s was a particular concern because of the high volume of off-roaders used to ferry children to and from school. Mr Doggett adds: “Parent-drivers must take extra care to ensure they’ve seen all of the hazards around them before setting off. We would like to see specific guidance provided to new 4x4 drivers by the Driving Standards Agency. Thousands of 4x4 drivers remain unaware of the dangers posed by the giant A-pillar blind spots their vehicles possess and they must adapt their driving habits to compensate for this.”

Rewriting an EC directive is likely to take years so, in the interim, Autoglass wants the Driving Standards Agency to provide guidance for driving instructors on educating new drivers about the A-spot. Drivers who have already passed their test should, says the company, pause and check their A-spot by looking around the A-pillars when negotiating junctions, roundabouts and when parking to ensure nothing is hidden from view.

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