Driver-Side Blind Spots Linked to Rising Number of Pedestrian Deaths: Report

Pedestrian fatalities have increased 78% since 2009, with multiple shifts in vehicle design and preference identified as contributing factors.

New research shows that operators of vehicles with larger driver-side blind spots are significantly more likely to strike pedestrians during left turns when compared to those with a clearer field of view.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) published the study last month, which found that wide blind spots increase left-turn pedestrian crash risks by 70%.

A blind spot is an area around a vehicle that the driver cannot see directly, even when using mirrors. These blind zones are often created by thick or angled A-pillars, oversized side mirrors and tall or extended hoods. Although these design features can improve crash protection, they can also make it harder for drivers to see pedestrians, cyclists or nearby vehicles.

Despite a sharp rise in pedestrian fatalities, which are up 78% since 2009 and now exceed 7,300 deaths per year, many automakers have continued to charge significantly more for blind-spot detection systems in vehicles. Critics claim this has left life-saving visibility technology out of reach for many consumers, even as vehicle designs have introduced larger blind zones that increase crash risks.

In the new study, IIHS researchers revisited how vehicle design affects visibility during turns. Engineers used a camera-based method to measure blind spots on 168 vehicles of various makes, models and model years, assessing visibility for an average-sized man and woman.

The team’s findings indicate:

Vehicle type differences:

• For a 5’9″ driver, cars had the largest driver-side blind spots, while pickups had the smallest.
• For a 4’11” driver, SUVs and pickups created the largest blind zones.

Visibility loss:

• Blind zones blocked 27% of the left-front view for a 5’9″ driver and 33% for a 4’11” driver.
• SUVs and pickups had narrower windshield views, limiting visibility of objects close to the front.

Crash risk increases:

• Blind zones blocking more than 30% of the driver-side view were linked to a 70% higher left-turn pedestrian crash risk.
• Blind zones blocking 20% to 30% of the view increased crash risk by 59%.
• Passenger-side blind spots did not significantly affect right-turn pedestrian crash risk, based on an analysis of 3,500 crashes.
• Fields of view 85 degrees or narrower carried a 51% higher left-turn crash risk compared to views wider than 90 degrees.
• A ground-level visibility point more than 30 feet ahead increased left-turn crash risk by 37%.

Taking these findings into consideration, the research team determined that larger driver-side blind spots may result in a greater number of pedestrian deaths.

“These results clearly highlight problematic aspects of vehicle design. The challenge for automakers will be finding ways to address them without reducing the protection vehicles provide to occupants in a crash.”

— David Harkey, IIHS President

IIHS researchers say improving pedestrian safety will require balancing structural protection with reduced blind zones. Technologies such as side-view cameras, hood airbags and pedestrian automatic emergency braking could help.

Changes to road design, including leading pedestrian intervals or extended curbs, may also give drivers more time to see people crossing and reduce crash risks.

In recent years, the increasing popularity and size of SUVs has contributed significantly to the rise in pedestrian deaths across the U.S. Research shows that taller front-end hoods strike pedestrians higher on the body, increasing the likelihood of severe or fatal injuries and often pushing victims underneath the vehicle. As average hood heights and vehicle weights continue to climb, these design trends are becoming a major factor in the growing number of deadly pedestrian crashes.

SUV designs also create larger blind zones that make it harder for drivers to see pedestrians near the front of the vehicle or while turning. Prior studies show these visibility limitations, combined with the greater force of impact from heavier vehicles, sharply increase the chances a pedestrian will be seriously injured or killed in a collision. Full-size SUVs, in particular, have been shown to nearly double the risk of fatal pedestrian injuries compared to smaller passenger cars.

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