Killer A-pillars defeated

Cameras that let you ‘see through’ solid steel…

What’s wrong with A-pillars all of a sudden?

They’ve been getting thicker and longer for years with the rise of the MPV and SUV, and are proven to reduce occupant injury in the event of a rollover crash. The downside is that you can’t see out very well, making it hard to see two-wheelers. Tricky… You can’t cut holes in the A-pillars, can you? Continental’s boffins have come up with an answer, called Virtual A Pillar, that involves exterior cameras, an interior camera checking where you’re looking, and a screen placed on each A-pillar to display what you would see if you were able to look through the A-pillar. Like x-ray specs?

A bit, but this isn’t about seeing people in their underwear – it’s about saving lives.

So no more accidents involving cars pulling out into the paths of bikes? This technology isn’t yet available on production cars. And it still requires the driver to pay attention – not just looking, but seeing. And this is diˆfferent from Cross TraffŠic Assist?

That involves the car’s sensors spotting other road users you may have missed, then slamming the anchors on for you if necessary. The combination of the two should work well together.

Can’t see over it, can’t see under it, can see through it