cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/19668622
In the army you have to have a ground guide for vehicles that big. A ground guide is a soldier that walks in front of the big vehicle and watches for obstacles. The ground guide helps the driver navigate obstacles they are unable to see due to blind spots.
I propose we legislate that all vehicles that big require a ground guide to walk in front of them.
Then everyone will buy small vehicles so the newly formed ground guide union will have less power.
Ground guide or at least a crew commander at the top of the tank/armoured fighting vehicle. I can see lots of people accepting a lookout on top of their Personal Support Truck before they’d consider downsizing or gulp not driving. I guess that would also increase vehicle occupancy above the abysmal 1.4 people/vehicle it’s currently at!
I also hate driving vehicles like this. It’s not comfortable to know you can’t see around you properly. They’re hard to park too and get terrible mileage.
I had a gf with a full size Chevy, a Silverado or something, and basically hated driving it. We’d go mildly off roading on some dirt roads and when you were going uphill you couldn’t see the road ahead of you. Just awful. I had to stop and get out a few times to ensure we weren’t about to drive off a cliff. That never happened in the normal sized Subaru I had.
Having driven modern Unimogs, I can say with certain that you can absolutely design a vehicle to carry heavy loads, go almost anywhere, be a truly multi-roll vehicle, and have virtually no blind spot. Has virtually no bonnet though, and no chrome wheels, so won’t compensate for having a tiny dick in the same way as a giant pickup though
I think the real-life photo of like a dozen kids in a line in front of the hood and completely invisible from the driver’s seat of the truck is more impacting. It’s insane. People that drive trucks like that are seriously compensating for something.
I hate Elon Musk, so I don’t want to get into a whole thing about it, but the Model 3 and Y have some of the shortest front blind spots of all makes and models of vehicle, largely because their is no engine under the hood allowing for a short and low front end. I couldn’t find any data for other all-electric vehicles, but I would assume any fully electric car would be similar.
Bicycles have zero blind spot in front.
Subarus also have pretty good visibility because of how their boxer engines sit lower than other types of engines.
Yep other EVs have this as well. The Hyundai IONIQ has great front sightlines for an SUV IIRC.
Still a car, but I admit EVs are much less hateable in a city for multiple reasons. No stinky tailpipe, no roaring engine noise, and generally better sightlines and safety features.
I think my ideal city would be mostly bikes and ebikes, with those vehicles that can’t be replaced by bikes being EVs.
My next car is going to be a GDLS M1 Abrams main battle tank. It’s the only true option for car lovers.
I definitely will not worry about anyone scratching the paint when I park.
Inb4 haha none of those other than the tank can shoot, you can mount a minigun on top of it.
*Minigun sold separately
**Mounting a Minigun will void warranty