[volt spain]

Everyone is aware of the huge blind spot of Pillar A, producing close calls for people walking slowly towards the car. My solution is my wife screaming STOP...The need for a "Transparent Pillar A" is being approached by Jaguar/ Toyota in new models with cameras, I wonder if a 360 degree or a dashcam will help. The fact that the air bag is there is not helping the issue. A transparent carbon fiber/Lexan woud be great...Has anyone a solution for this problem beside a great wife screaming STOP !!!

 

[Tacoma]

I think that is a great idea.
Got a good laugh about your wife. The same could be said for my wife. She is a great observer and verbal warning device, the only problem, there isn't a mute button.

 

[Monzsta]

Mine spouts gibberish when she panics. She makes funny noises but no words. Funny as all get out! "Uh, UGHBIGLAAAHHH!" (I'm flying toward a stop light) Then I get slugged for laughing at her.

 

[JRRF]

I'm not exactly sure why, but the A pillar doesn't bother me at all. I think it has to do with driving cautiously and defensively. If you don't have situational awareness, you aren't looking around sufficiently before proceeding.

 

[viking79]

Airbag is not actually in the A pillar, it is up in the roof rail I think.

A pillar is thick for roof strength, which needs to be stronger than an average compact car due to high weight. Maybe GM could use more ultra high strength steel. The one in my Clarity is notably thinner.

 

[volt spain]

You can go slow as a turtle,but if the walking person has similar speed 3-5 miles then the car , will keep the same "bearing" and you will not see him/her until is literally on the very front of the car. There is an airbag in pillar A.I would love to have an aftermarket alert for pillar A, the front parking alarms do not work for this purpose, unless we could increase the alert from feet to yards.

 

[JRRF]

You can go slow as a turtle,but if the walking person has similar speed 3-5 miles then the car , will keep the same "bearing" and you will not see him/her until is literally on the very front of the car. There is an airbag in pillar A.I would love to have an aftermarket alert for pillar A, the front parking alarms do not work for this purpose, unless we could increase the alert from feet to yards.

If you sit as still as a stone, yes, you could get constant bearing. But if you strive to look, you will see.

 

[JRRF]

Airbag is not actually in the A pillar, it is up in the roof rail I think.

A pillar is thick for roof strength, which needs to be stronger than an average compact car due to high weight. Maybe GM could use more ultra high strength steel. The one in my Clarity is notably thinner.

Bigger is not always stronger.

 

[srmarti]

I suppose a camera and display could be rigged up.

 

[JRRF]

I suppose a camera and display could be rigged up.

This could be tricky. The technology used in the Bolt for the rear view mirror works because it is disconnected from the surrounding view out the windshield. But for the A pillar, the "view" in the pillar would have to seamlessly integrate with the surrounding view out the side windows and windshield. And as your head moves, so do all three of those views.

 

[TSquare]

Apparently Toyota has already patented an idea to make the pillars seem invisible by using mirrors.

http://www.motortrend.com/news/toyota-patents-see-pillars/

 

[obermd]

I don't find the A pillars to be an issue in my Volt. My issue is the huge blind spots behind the B pillars that I've been unable to get my side view mirrors to cover. I may have to add the little button mirrors to them.

 

[JRRF]

Apparently Toyota has already patented an idea to make the pillars seem invisible by using mirrors.

http://www.motortrend.com/news/toyota-patents-see-pillars/

This is very cool. But the article makes clear:

The execution will probably be a little more difficult.

If Toyota could actually get this to work well enough to put it into production, it would be way more practical than adding screens and cameras to a car’s A-pillars. But at this point, it’s just a patent application. Toyota has yet to even show off a prototype. Until that happens, it’s much more likely that this concept never becomes a reality.

 

[JRRF]

I don't find the A pillars to be an issue in my Volt. My issue is the huge blind spots behind the B pillars that I've been unable to get my side view mirrors to cover. I may have to add the little button mirrors to them.

My mirrors have no problem picking up the B-pillar blind spot...

 

[obermd]

My mirrors have no problem picking up the B-pillar blind spot...

I think a lot of this blind spot is where the driver sits for comfort. In the Gen 1 Cruze I had no issues but a lot of other folks on CruzeTalk did have issues.

 

[MinnVolt]

I traded in a Volvo wagon with great visibility all around, and I frankly miss that. One of the first things I noticed on the test drive was the fat A pillar, and it took some time to adapt to it and be more careful - particularly when turning left or with oncoming traffic on the left. Rear visibility is probably no worse than most other sedans today - I have driven some coupes that made me feel like I was sitting in an army tank with just a periscope.

I loved the car - but it has some faults that spoil the charm . . .

 

[MP81]

Airbag is not actually in the A pillar, it is up in the roof rail I think.

A pillar is thick for roof strength, which needs to be stronger than an average compact car due to high weight. Maybe GM could use more ultra high strength steel. The one in my Clarity is notably thinner.

I guarantee the A-pillar has a hot-stamped component in it. It is that size for a reason, and it really isn't that big, nor does it ever get in my way.

The side curtain air bag runs all the way from the bottom of the A-pillar to about the first quarter of the hatch. Due to FMVSS 226, airbags run all the way down the A-pillar to mitigate occupant ejection.

 

[Guest]

Our first few rides in the ELR were definitely claustrophobic. Having owned one now for 5 weeks, A-pillar, B-pillar, C-pillar massive thicknesses are a non-issue.
Keeping my neck and upper torso flexible will benefit my health...HAHA!

 

[Guest]

Corning has experimented with super strong glass that may be as strong as steel. Maybe if their research is completed, we may see cars that have a full glass roof, from the windshield to the back, or a completely transparent top. It must pass the NHTSA and the IIHS rollover test, but it may also be heavier than steel and cloth covering, so it may be an expensive option. The car can use clear seals between the windows and the roof to improve the clear top view. No "A", "B", or "C" pillars!

Add some liquid crystals between the layers, some electronics, and we may have clear glass tops for nice days, then adjustable shading for privacy or too much sun. Then have it all darken completely opaque as a security measure when parked.

 

[Twilight Fenrir]

I went for a test drive in a 2018, and I was really offput by the visibility restrictions of the car... The A pillars stood out as the worst to me, too.

I've got an 05 Cobalt at the moment, and it has pretty great visibility for a sedan... Before that, I only ever owned coups, including my Fiero and my El Camino. I loved them for their visibility.