Modern car design could be making accidents more likely, according to new research by What Car?
magazine in association with opticians Dollond & Aitchison.
The magazine tested fifty models to investigate if it is getting harder to see out of modern cars. The results make alarming reading. To help meet today’s rigorous crash test standards, many models have thick windscreen pillars which whilst adding strength, restrict vision.
Editor, Rob Aherne, said: ‘Over the past decade, cars have made giant strides in terms of protecting their occupants in accidents. However, our research suggests that they may be increasing the likelihood of accidents happening in the first place
.’
The Audi A4 was awarded top marks in What Car?
’s tests, which compared the area obscured by the pillars with area visible through the screen. Next best were the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Polo. The Vauxhall Meriva picked up the worst score, with the Honda Jazz and Mazda MX-5 also performing very poorly.
|
Model
|
Screen to pillar ratio
|
Rating
|
1
|
Audi A4
|
4.02
|
5/5
|
2
|
Ford Mondeo
|
3.72
|
5/5
|
3
|
Volkswagen Polo
|
3.64
|
5/5
|
4
|
Vauxhall Astra
|
3.52
|
4/5
|
5
|
Rover 25
|
3.42
|
4/5
|
6
|
Honda Civic
|
3.32
|
4/5
|
7
|
Fiat Punto
|
3.22
|
4/5
|
8
|
Citroën C3
|
3.14
|
4/5
|
9
|
Vauxhall Vectra
|
3.11
|
4/5
|
10
|
Renault Laguna
|
3.09
|
4/5
|
11
|
Volkswagen Passat
|
3.06
|
4/5
|
12
|
Citroën C5
|
3.04
|
4/5
|
13
|
Toyota RAV4
|
2.99
|
4/5
|
14
|
BMW 3-series
|
2.98
|
4/5
|
15
|
Vauxhall Corsa
|
2.95
|
3/5
|
16
|
Honda CR-V
|
2.90
|
3/5
|
17
|
Toyota Corolla
|
2.86
|
3/5
|
18
|
VW Golf
|
2.73
|
3/5
|
19
|
Saab 9-3
|
2.73
|
3/5
|
20
|
Renault Espace
|
2.71
|
3/5
|
21
|
Ford Focus
|
2.70
|
3/5
|
22
|
Toyota Avensis
|
2.69
|
3/5
|
23
|
Mazda 6
|
2.67
|
3/5
|
24
|
Mercedes C-class
|
2.63
|
3/5
|
25
|
Ford Fiesta
|
2.63
|
3/5
|
26
|
Nissan Almera
|
2.52
|
3/5
|
27
|
Rover 75
|
2.50
|
3/5
|
28
|
Ford Galaxy
|
2.43
|
3/5
|
29
|
Mini One
|
2.37
|
3/5
|
30
|
Honda Accord
|
2.31
|
2/5
|
31
|
Renault Clio
|
2.29
|
2/5
|
32
|
Renault Mégane
|
2.28
|
2/5
|
33
|
Jaguar X-type
|
2.27
|
2/5
|
34
|
Toyota Previa
|
2.26
|
2/5
|
35
|
Volvo XC90
|
2.15
|
2/5
|
36
|
Nissan Micra
|
2.09
|
2/5
|
37
|
MG TF
|
2.09
|
2/5
|
38
|
Peugeot 807
|
2.04
|
2/5
|
39
|
Peugeot 307
|
2.02
|
2/5
|
40
|
Citroën Picasso
|
1.91
|
2/5
|
41
|
Audi A2
|
1.86
|
1/5
|
42
|
Land Rover Freelander
|
1.85
|
1/5
|
43
|
Vauxhall Zafira
|
1.83
|
1/5
|
44
|
Peugeot 206
|
1.81
|
1/5
|
45
|
Audi TT
|
1.81
|
1/5
|
46
|
VW Touran
|
1.76
|
1/5
|
47
|
Toyota Yaris
|
1.63
|
1/5
|
48
|
Mazda MX-5
|
1.55
|
1/5
|
49
|
Honda Jazz
|
1.53
|
1/5
|
50
|
Vauxhall Meriva
|
1.33
|
1/5
|