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Hidden hazards behind the wheel
08/04/2009
Drivers could be encountering dangerous blind spots in many new cars, according to visibility testing by NRMA Insurance.
The insurer today launched its Car Blind Spot Ratings to help demonstrate how some car designs can reduce visibility for drivers, especially at intersections, roundabouts and pedestrian crossings.
The testing involved rotating a laser 180 degrees from the driver’s seat to replicate a driver’s vision. The scores were calculated by taking into account the position of the windscreen pillars (where the windscreen meets the side window) and how much each blocked the laser. The insurer tested 138 new vehicles.
The insurer revealed more than 80 per cent of cars tested only score one or two stars with popular cars like the Holden Commodore (one star) and Toyota Yaris sedan (one star) among them.
NRMA Insurance Head of Research Robert McDonald acknowledged manufacturers faced a difficult design challenge in combining safety with visibility.
“Modern vehicle design has improved the safety of cars for drivers and passengers remarkably in recent years” said Mr McDonald. “But manufacturers may need to help drivers on the road by striking a better balance between crash safety and visibility."
“It is a concern that in some cars a pedestrian or cyclist can be lost in a blind spot from as close as nine metres and a driver can lose sight of another vehicle from about 20 metres."
“Hopefully, manufacturers can consider these types of scores and statistics in vehicle design and combine vehicle safety, ergonomics and visibility.”
Mr McDonald said only 14 of the cars had struck the right balance – performing well in both the Car Blind Spot Ratings and scoring well in the frontal crash testing of the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). He singled out the Citroen C4 Picasso and Volkswagen Golf (V), with both topping the Car Blind Spot Ratings with four stars but also scoring well with ANCAP.
“While blind spots can be dangerous, the last thing we would want to see is cars that have good visibility but poor protection in a serious crash.”
Mr McDonald also said it was encouraging almost three out of four NSW drivers are aware of blind spots on their own car.*
“When drivers approach intersections – particularly roundabouts – it is very easy to lose sight of a car as you give way” explained Mr McDonald. “Drivers should always be aware of the blind spots on their cars and be prepared to move their head to look around them when necessary."
“We would also encourage consumers to consider all aspects of vehicle safety – including visibility – when purchasing a vehicle.”
For more information on road safety, or to see the full results of the Car Blind Spot Ratings, visit Driver Visibility.
* Based on research commissioned by NRMA Insurance in February 2009.