Vehicle Design and Visibility 1 Robert McDonald, IAG Research Centre
2 IAG Research Centre
Rear Visibility Index Origins Media and government interest around driveway deaths of children Anecdotal information that it was a 4WD (SUV) problem Investigation requested by our 3 rd party injury insurer 3
Rear Visibility Index Testing Procedure Established criteria based on reputable studies Test object Height 600mm (2yr old shoulder ht.) Commercial laser device at eye level Uses H point machine Average height driver Top selling vehicles 4
Rear Visibility Index Star Rating System Combination of visible area and horizontal distance Takes into account additional parking aids 5
Test Results Rank Vehicle Invisible area m2 (up Star Rating to distance of 15m) (out of 5) 1 Renault Clio Sport (3 Door Hatch) 3.97 4 2 Suzuki Ignis (3 Door Hatch) 4.96 4 3 Audi TT Roadster 5.80 3.5 4 Toyota Echo (3 Door Hatch) 5.80 3.5 5 MG-TF Convertible 6.02 3.5 6 Kia Sportage 6.08 3.5 7 Ford Focus (Hatch - CL) 6.12 3.5 8 Jaguar XJ8 - (Sedan) 6.20 3.5 9 Hyundai Getz (3 Door Hatch) 7.01 3.5 10 Mercedes Benz SL500 7.04 3.5 11 Holden Cruze (5 Door) 7.81 3.5 12 Nissan Pulsar (5 Door Hatch) 8.00 3.5 13 Subaru Forester 8.64 3 14 Peugeot 307 (5 Door Hatch) 9.18 3 15 Mazda 323 Astina 9.54 3 16 Volvo V70 XC 9.65 3 17 Toyota Corolla (Hatch) 10.08 3 18 Toyota Landcruiser (100 Series) 10.64 3 19 VW Polo (3 Door Hatch) 10.80 2.5 20 Nissan X-Trail 10.94 2.5 21 Toyota Hiace 11.13 2.5 22 Ford Falcon Wagon 11.61 2.5 23 Holden Rodeo (4X2 Crew Cab) 11.64 2.5 24 Hyundai Santa Fe 12.74 2.5 25 Holden Astra (5 Door Hatch) 13.20 2.5 26 VW Caravelle (1991) 13.56 2.5 27 Hyundai Terracan 13.94 2.5 28 Toyota Hilux (4X2 Cab Chassis) 14.11 2.5 29 Ford Transit Van 12.40 2 30 Daewoo Tacuma 12.50 2 31 Hyundai Trajet 13.06 2 32 Range Rover 13.96 2 33 Honda CR-V (Previous Model) 14.17 2 34 Ford Falcon (Sedan) 14.25 2 35 Toyota Landcruiser (80 Series) 15.06 2 36 Toyota Camry (2000) 15.44 2 37 Mitsubsihi Magna (Sedan) 17.52 2 38 Nissan Pulsar (Sedan) 15.65 1.5 39 VW Caravelle (2002) 15.96 1.5 40 Toyota Camry (2002 - No Spoiler) 16.10 1.5 41 Subaru Liberty RX (Sedan) 16.70 1.5 42 Mazda Premacy 17.08 1.5 43 VW Golf (5 Door Hatch) 17.12 1.5 44 Ford Focus (Sedan - Ghia) 18.16 1.5 45 Mercedes C-Class (Sedan) 19.03 1.5 46 Holden Commodore VY (Sedan) 21.17 1.5 47 Toyota Camry (2002 - With Spoiler) 21.33 1.5 48 Toyota Tarago 18.09 1 49 BMW 320i Wagon 18.11 1 50 Hyundai Accent (3 Door Hatch) 18.77 1 51 Toyota RAV4 (3 Door) 18.78 1 52 Nissan Patrol 20.11 1 53 Toyota Avensis 20.65 1 54 Kia Carnival 20.69 1 55 Holden Commodore (VS ute) 20.77 1 56 Mazda 6 (Sedan) 21.54 1 57 VW Passat 21.60 1 58 Hyundai Elantra (5 Door Hatch) 22.92 0.5 59 Honda CR-V (Current Model) 23.51 0.5 60 BMW 325ti (3 Door Coupe) 23.87 0.5 61 Holden Commodore (VX Wagon) 25.05 0.5 62 Mitsubishi Pajero 25.44 0.5 63 Mazda MPV 26.37 0.5 64 Holden Commodore (VX Sedan) 27.00 0 65 Toyota Prado 27.00 0 6
7 Rear Visibility Index Released to media in 2002
8 Results news media
NSW Motor Accident Authority Education Campaign MAA Document Targeted at families and new parents 9
Insurance Website www.nrma.com.au/reversing 10
Parking Sensors Many OE sensors too susceptible to side image which results in false alarms Aftermarket sensors offer variable placement and some are adjustable Usefulness only to prevent parking damage to vehicle 11
Reversing Cameras Wide angle cameras mounted in rear of vehicle (above rear bumper) are effective in most situations in reducing rear blind spots Screens should be mounted as high as possible and mirror reversed 12
Aftermarket cameras and parking sensors Cost of both aftermarket parking sensors ($100) and reversing cameras ($200) has fallen dramatically 13
Reversing Camera Status c 23% now have camera standard 11% now optional 14
15 Results - car manufacturer marketing
16 Rearward Visibility Issues Vehicle design
Forward Visibility Modern cars pillars are significantly stronger for crash safety. Major blind spot in many cars 17
Forward Visibility Index Testing Criteria Same parameters as Rear Visibility Test object Height 600mm Average height driver Top selling vehicles 18
Forward Visibility Index Combination of visible area and horizontal distance 19
20 Forward Visibility
21 Forward Visibility
360 o Visibility Percentage of 360 degree view blocked calculated Range of Results 19% - 39% 22 c
ANCAP HAS BEEN CONDUCTING PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION TESTS SINCE 2000 23
The Future? High tech reversing cameras 24 Guidelines and side cameras added
The Future? 25 c Modern AEB systems can detect people
Summary Modern vehicle design is going to continue to interfere with visibility All modern vehicles have visibility issues Technology may offer partial solutions Building standards could help Driver behaviour modification Vehicle marketing/ buyer awareness 26