I drive a Honda Element. The A-pillars are huge and cover a ridiculous percent of the field of view. "Constant bearing, decreasing range" ought to be printed on the side mirrors, or perhaps it should have been named the "Honda CBDR". (Note: I love the car, this is just one of it's few less-than-perfect attributes.)
On certain left-curving roads it's possible to drive 10 - 15 seconds being unable to see anything directly in front of you.
I compensate by bobbing and weaving to look around the A-pillar at every intersection or when passing. Maybe it even makes me a safer driver because there's no illusion - I know there's a lot I can't see so drive accordingly.
My biggest fear of driving a modern car is pedestrians and cyclists hiding in the think A pillar when turning. I am also doing the bob and weave like a prize boxer to make sure things don't escape my vision. I'd much rather run into another car than a pedestrian since at least vehicle collisions are a fair fight.
I'm so much more comfortable when I drive my vintage car. The greenhouse is massive, so you can see everything without even turning your head. I also drive that car much more consciously since it requires real effort. The trade off is if I ever run into anything I'm under no illusions about the safety it provides (which is none)
I can't wait for A pillars that are screens so they become invisible.
On certain left-curving roads it's possible to drive 10 - 15 seconds being unable to see anything directly in front of you.
I compensate by bobbing and weaving to look around the A-pillar at every intersection or when passing. Maybe it even makes me a safer driver because there's no illusion - I know there's a lot I can't see so drive accordingly.