Apparently, we can't see out of our 4x4s now

[Slugsie]

Another anti-4x4 thing...
Guardian Unlimited article

I'd love to know how they measure this supposed blind spot (up to 4.1m on some cars). What distance from the car are they talking about? I've been in a Disco more than a few times, and I can't say I ever had problems seeing out. I'm sure that at 10 miles away, the size of the blind spot is big enough to hide several busses, but so what?

I don't know about anyone else, but when I'm stationary and about to move off, I lean forwards and move around in my seat so that I can see what is behind the A pillar. I did this in my Citroens, Peugeots, Volvos etc long before getting a 4x4. The A pillar blind spot is only an issue if you sit dead still in your seat, and (yet again) the type of car you drive will therefore be irrelevant.

[NFC]

That's nothing compared to the blind-spot an uncleared windscreen has in winter.

Generally, I find the car moves forwards, towards the view in the windscreen, not diagonally towards the "view" through the A-pillar, but then I do have to watch and wait for the kids to walk past the drive before I can get out to work in the morning (the downside of living next-door to a school), but I find that, by looking around carefully and moving slowly and generally being careful and observant I've yet to hit anyone.

It's a good job cars don't have a G-pillar isn't it?

[Slugsie]

It's a good job cars don't have a G-pillar isn't it?

Yup, we'd never find that one.

[BUSHWHACKER]

My transit had the same size, maybe even wider 'A' pillar than my truck has. I wonder how many pedestrians I ran over and never knew?

[Sancho]

What a load of horsesh1t. A proper study was done into this five years ago

http://magpie.lboro.ac.uk/dspace/bit...130+AR2180.pdf

for anyone that be bothered reading all of that.

Yes, a Grand Cherokee was worst OUT OF THE SAMPLE but if you look about 1% deeper it is obvious that this is pretty much coincidence and nothing to do with it being a 4x4. There is a general move towards thick A pillars to increase driver/passenger safety in the event of a crash and that's all there is to it.

I don't normally get excited about the so-called persecution of 4x4 owners, but that article is just b0llocks.

[TonyN]

Yeah, its $$$$, ban all panel vans, and other vehicles without windows then they can come back and say 4x4's are the worst for blindspots.

Its so blinkered, such lazy reporting.
Anyway, a blindspot dosn't make a car dangerous, the person driving who doesn't allow for any blindspots and so make extra efforts is in the wrong, WHATEVER they drive.

Anyone who blames a blind spot for an accident is making excuses for not looking properly.

[Slugsie]

What a load of horsesh1t. A proper study was done into this five years ago

http://magpie.lboro.ac.uk/dspace/bit...130+AR2180.pdf

for anyone that be bothered reading all of that.

Yes, a Grand Cherokee was worst OUT OF THE SAMPLE but if you look about 1% deeper it is obvious that this is pretty much coincidence and nothing to do with it being a 4x4. There is a general move towards thick A pillars to increase driver/passenger safety in the event of a crash and that's all there is to it.

I don't normally get excited about the so-called persecution of 4x4 owners, but that article is just b0llocks.

Just looking through that document, it's a bit dry (obviously), and looking at the table of vehicle comparisons... Cherokee is indeed the worst in their test, followed by those well know dangerous cars... Renaulty Laguna, Jag XK8, Volvo V40, Citroen Xsara, and Toyota Yaris(!). The next 4x4 on that list is the Disco, but it's nearly 30% better than most of the ones I've just listed.

So, yet again another very selective anti 4x4 piece of bull cr@p.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Yeah, its $$$$, ban all panel vans, and other vehicles without windows then they can come back and say 4x4's are the worst for blindspots.

Its so blinkered, such lazy reporting.
Anyway, a blindspot dosn't make a car dangerous, the person driving who doesn't allow for any blindspots and so make extra efforts is in the wrong, WHATEVER they drive.

Anyone who blames a blind spot for an accident is making excuses for not looking properly.

'Driving without due care and attention'

[Apache]

'Driving without due care and attention'

More like journalisming without due care and attention

[da SLUG man]

TVR Tuscan has a windscreen like a letterbox... great fun to drive though!...

all HGV wing mirrors block loads of view out the window... you kinda learn to look around them!...

[BUSHWHACKER]

What about the Vauxhall Nova drivers with their baseball caps pulled right down covering their noses?

[wahchild]

Heard this on the radio this morning and nearly crashed from laughing so hard - how's that for a danger to driving.

Seriously though - how much has this 'report' & 'reporter' irrationally got against 4x4's? Of course, people only ever look out of the front of cars don't they. Never seen anyone reversing near a school in either a coupe or hatchback? How's that for lack of visibility?

I can honestly say that my 4Runner has the best overall visibility of any car I've ever driven.

[angusglover]

Yup, we'd never find that one.

I know mechanics that do not even believe it exists...

[NFC]

Let's make everyone drive L*ndR*vers or J*eps with the screens folded down

What would that do for road safety d'ya reckon?

[M35A2]

Blind Spot????

They haven't obviously sat in the drivers seat of a new Volvo FM 400 tractor unit. The mirrors are SO big, there is a massive blind spot on the DRIVERS side. You have to physically lift yourself out of the seat to see over the top.

Now, where is that school bus with 40 kids in that I can't see???