Blind spots are a clear factor in some vehicle collisions, as seen by how helpful blind-spot warning systems can be.
A 2017 survey by Consumer Reports found that the vast majority of car owners reported that blind-spot warning technology helped them avoid an accident. And a 2019 analysis by the University of Michigan found that blind-spot alerts reduced crashes during lane changes by an estimated 26%.
But although these technologies have proven successful in older vehicle models, they may not be enough to combat larger blind spots that often plague newer models.
A new report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that blind spots are growing, and so are pedestrian and cyclist deaths.
The IIHS used a new measurement technique to calculate the percentage of the vehicle’s surroundings that were visible. Portable camera rigs in the driver’s seat of different models at different heights represented various drivers.
The camera captured a 360-degree view, which software converted into a blind-zone map — an aerial view of the vehicle and the closest points on the ground that were visible to the driver.
According to the results, for three popular SUV models, the forward visibility within 10 meters (about 33 feet) declined by as much as 58% from 1997 to 2023.
The IIHS studied 1997-2023 model years for the:
- Chevrolet Suburban
- Ford F-150
- Honda Accord
- Honda CR-V
- Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Toyota Camry
During that 25-year period, pedestrian deaths soared by 37% and cyclist deaths rose by 42% in the U.S.
Researchers can’t pinpoint a particular cause for this jump in fatalities. But they linked it to factors such as population growth in areas with poor pedestrian infrastructure, speed increases, and changes in vehicle size and shape — which can affect blind spots.
“The across-the-board decrease in visibility for this small group of models is concerning,” IIHS President David Harkey says. “We need to investigate whether this is a broader trend that may have contributed to the recent spike in pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities.”
The Honda CR-V had the largest decrease in visibility of the vehicles analyzed. Drivers of the 1997 model could see 68% of the area 10 meters in front of their car, but drivers of the 2022 model could see just 28%.
Drivers of the 2000 Suburban (the earliest model of the vehicle the IIHS studied) could see 56% of the area 10 meters in front of them, but drivers of the 2023 model could see 28% of the area.
For both of these SUVs, the biggest factors contributing to the decline in visibility were a higher hood and larger side mirrors.
The Honda Accord had the smallest decrease. Drivers could see 65% of the area 10 meters in front of the 2003 model compared with 60% for the 2023 model.
The other sedan, the Camry, also had a relatively small decrease in visibility.
These vehicles aren’t necessarily the most dangerous on the road, though, despite their shrinking visibility. For that, read Money Talks News’ reporting on “The 23 Deadliest Cars on the Road.”
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