Are thicker A-pillars making driving less safe?

MORE than one in four accidents outside built-up areas occur when vehicles turn off, join or cross intersections, often because drivers fail to see other road users with the right of way, meaning that all-around visibility remains a critical safety factor.

- WILLEM VAN DE PUTTE

A recent evaluation by ADAC shows that this problem may be getting worse. Its Autotest, which measures 360-degree visibility using a test dummy from the driver's perspective, found a gradual decline in overall visibility in modern vehicles.

Last year, the average visibility score stood at 3.9, compared to 3.7 seven years ago. A higher score reflects poorer visibility.

The most significant deterioration relates to the A-pillar, the structural support on either side of the windscreen. Its sub-score dropped from 3.2 in 2019 to 4.2 last year, indicating a notable increase in obstruction. In some cases, cyclists or motorcyclists can disappear completely behind them.

Best and worst

The Mini Cooper achieved the best score at 2.5, followed closely by the Hyundai i10 at 2.6 and both the Audi Q8 and Subaru Outback at 2.8.