  Blind spots created by the driver-side B-pillar impair the ability of the
driver to assess their surroundings accurately, significantly contributing to
the frequency and severity of vehicular accidents. Vehicle manufacturers are
unable to readily eliminate the B-pillar due to regulatory guidelines intended
to protect vehicular occupants in the event of side collisions and rollover
incidents. Furthermore, assistance implements utilized to counteract the
adverse effects of blind spots remain ineffective due to technological
limitations and optical impediments. This paper introduces mechanisms to
quantify the obstruction caused by the B-pillar when the head of the driver is
facing forward and turning 90 degrees, typical of an over-the-shoulder blind
spot check. It uses the metrics developed to demonstrate the relationship
between B-pillar width and the obstruction angle. The paper then creates a
methodology to determine the movement required of the driver to eliminate blind
spots. Ultimately, this paper proposes a solution, the Blind Spot Eliminator,
and demonstrates that it successfully decreases both the obstruction angle and,
consequently, the required driver movement. A prototype of the Blind Spot
Eliminator is also constructed and experimented with using a mannequin to model
human vision in a typical passenger vehicle. The results of this experiment
illustrated a substantial improvement in viewing ability, as predicted by
earlier calculations. Therefore, this paper concludes that the proposed Blind
Spot Eliminator has excellent potential to improve driver safety and reduce
vehicular accidents.
  Keywords: B-pillar, driver vision, active safety, blind spots,
transportation, crash avoidance, side-view assist.
