75% More Pedestrians Have Been Killed Since 2009. Giant Trucks and SUVs Are a Major Reason
www.thedrive.com
A new NYT analysis found that anyone shorter than 5-foot-6 — about half of American adults — would frequently be knocked to the ground in front of today's average vehicle.

Key Takeaways

  • Bigger cars, bigger danger. Pedestrian fatalities have surged 75% since 2009, linked to the rise of larger vehicles like SUVs and pickups.
  • Size matters in safety. Larger vehicle dimensions contribute to increased pedestrian deaths, with 200-400 lives potentially saved annually if cars hadn’t grown.
  • Regulations and repercussions. Changes in emissions and fuel economy rules inadvertently encouraged bigger cars, impacting pedestrian safety.
  • Physics of impact. Larger vehicles distribute force differently, but their height and mass increase the risk of deadly collisions.

Bottom line: The rise of larger vehicles has significantly increased pedestrian fatalities, highlighting the unintended consequences of regulatory changes and vehicle design trends.

  • Boomer Humor Doomergod@lemmy.worldEnglish
    21·
    2 days ago

    I’m a big guy, but my cars’ bumpers would hit me below the knee and throw me onto the hood. Both even have padded engine covers to prevent injury from hitting the hood.

    The loaner I got recently, despite being marketed as a “compact SUV” would have hit me right on my hips and the clearance would mean I’d be pulled under the car.

    And that’s the smallest car the dealer could give me. And it barely fit in my garage.