This article conveniently omits the reason for the gigantic A-pillars - Other safety regulations that enforce a certain coverage of airbags for the passengers. We can't magically regulate this one away. These kinds of higher order consequences tend to be a really painful, gradual realization.
I would gladly purchase a new vehicle with zero airbags in it if I were allowed to. Especially if the tradeoff is a 50% buff to visibility in the corners. I would also happily sign a form that locks up my vehicle's title for all eternity and prohibits any form of resale to satisfy the safety-at-all-costs extremists who caused this mess in the first place.
modeless · 15m ago
Not mentioned in the article is that increasing regulations for safety and efficiency are the cause of worse visibility, because they encourage or require more airbags, more strength, more crumple zones, higher hoods, more steeply sloped windows, etc.
btmiller · 3m ago
That’s an important point to remember. Do you think all the car safety regulations were the most effective and achievable solution in the US? Or are there alternatives to achieving safety without resorting to mass transit? Don’t get me wrong, I live in a city and good mass transit would be AWESOME (for safety too). I don’t think that environment is shared by a majority of Americans, and so I’m still skeptical whether extensive mass transit networks across America would ever be economically and technically realistic (i.e. the suburb i grew up in will certainly never have city walkability).
neuroelectron · 16m ago
I hit a pedestrian because of this and with combination of blinding LED headlights someone left on while parked. Luckily I was going slow and the pedestrian admitted to walking out in front of me, assuming I would stop for them. I didn't see them at all. They didn't see me looking either since the led headlights were blinding him as well. I complained to the kid whose car was dazzling everyone and he said "they're just headlights."
r0ckarong · 17m ago
Just make it shoot the person you're running over. Problem solved.
allears · 9m ago
Blind spots on regulators seem to be expanding also
Regulators are the reason for this.
This article conveniently omits the reason for the gigantic A-pillars - Other safety regulations that enforce a certain coverage of airbags for the passengers. We can't magically regulate this one away. These kinds of higher order consequences tend to be a really painful, gradual realization.
I would gladly purchase a new vehicle with zero airbags in it if I were allowed to. Especially if the tradeoff is a 50% buff to visibility in the corners. I would also happily sign a form that locks up my vehicle's title for all eternity and prohibits any form of resale to satisfy the safety-at-all-costs extremists who caused this mess in the first place.