Pedestrian fatalities in the US have been on the rise since 2009, reversing decades of continuous decline. According to The Drive, a notable reason for this trend is that vehicles are becoming taller and heavier.

Researchers analyzed data from regulatory bodies and the automotive industry, including previously unpublished vehicle size datasets. Results indicate that the growing popularity of large SUVs and pickup trucks significantly contributes to the increase in pedestrian deaths. Estimates suggest that 200-400 pedestrians might have been saved each year if vehicle sizes had remained at levels seen 25 years ago. This figure is equivalent to about 10% of the increase in fatalities in recent years.

The study also suggests that approximately 3,000 deaths between 2016 and 2024 are linked to the trend of increasingly high vehicle front ends. However, the research team believes the actual number could be higher, as their analysis model did not account for collisions in parking lots, private roads, or private areas. Additionally, traffic accidents are influenced by multiple factors.

Since 2009, pedestrian fatalities in the US have increased by 75%. Researchers attribute this trend to the greater weight, higher front ends, and wider blind spots of modern SUVs and pickup trucks.

A RAM pickup truck in the US market. Photo: The Drive

SUV size increases after 2009

SUVs and pickup trucks began to boom in the US in the 1990s, but the 2008 financial crisis temporarily halted their growth. Following this, rising fuel prices and a series of new policies encouraged consumers to switch to newer vehicle models.

The US implemented stricter emission standards and altered how fuel consumption was calculated. The Cash for Clunkers program also removed nearly 700,000 vehicles from the used car market, prompting many customers to purchase new cars.

A notable change was the calculation of fuel economy standards based on "footprint", which considers a vehicle's overall size. This regulation unintentionally incentivized automakers to develop larger vehicles, as bigger cars were subject to different standard thresholds. Consequently, crossovers and SUVs became increasingly popular, gradually replacing mid-size sedans as family vehicles.

Higher front ends, greater risk

Theoretically, a larger front end distributes impact force over a wider contact area, reducing pressure on individual body parts. This view once influenced European car design regulations, leading to lower front ends being replaced by higher, more rounded designs.

However, this benefit diminishes as vehicle mass continuously increases. Newer vehicles are not only larger but also heavier due to the addition of more technology, while smaller models are disappearing from the market. According to the study, the height of the vehicle's front end is a significant concern. If a collision occurs below a pedestrian's center of gravity, they are usually thrown onto the hood. But if the front end is high enough to strike at or above the center of gravity, the victim is more likely to be knocked down directly in front of the vehicle.

This situation is particularly dangerous because SUVs and pickup trucks have larger front blind spots than lower-riding cars. Drivers find it harder to see victims after an impact. "Many serious collisions happen even at low speeds because pedestrians are knocked down in front of the vehicle. By the time the driver realizes what has happened, the victim's head is already under the wheel," stated Shawn Harrington, a representative of Forensic Rock, a crash testing company.

Despite advancements in tires, braking systems, and safety technologies that make SUVs and pickup trucks easier to control, their increasing size and mass continue to heighten the danger to pedestrians.

Ho Tan (via The Drive)