In some SUVs, forward visibility within 10 meters has dropped by up to 58% over the past 25 years
Forward visibility in new cars—especially SUVs and crossovers—has worsened significantly, with blind spots expanding dramatically. A new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study reveals just how severe the problem has become.
Comparing six models over a 25-year span, the IIHS found that the 1997 Honda CR-V allowed drivers to see 68% of the area within 10 meters of the vehicle. By 2023, that figure had plummeted to just 28%—a 58% drop, the steepest in the study. The Chevrolet Suburban’s visibility fell from 56% to 28%, while the Ford F-150 slipped from 43% to 36%.
The IIHS attributes much of the decline to higher hoods and larger side mirrors, which block forward and corner sightlines. These styling and safety trends have become standard in SUVs and crossovers, suggesting that many other models not included in the study have also suffered substantial visibility losses.
By comparison, sedans saw smaller declines. The Toyota Camry dropped from 65% to 60% in 20 years, while the Honda Accord fell from 61% in 2007 to 57% in 2023, thanks to more modest hood and mirror size changes.
This study is the first to use IIHS’s new 360° camera-based method for measuring blind spots, offering more detail and efficiency than past techniques. The group plans to use it to create blind zone maps for roughly 150 vehicle models, which could provide a clearer picture of how these visibility issues affect road safety.
