(InvestigateTV) — American roads are increasingly dominated by large SUVs and trucks.
As of January 2025, more than 80% of new vehicle sales were SUVs and pickup trucks.
While these supersized vehicles are often praised for providing superior crash protection for drivers and passengers, a growing body of research reveals that they could be more dangerous for pedestrians.
A 2023 report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) dives into how modern vehicle design has evolved, and what that means for safety outside the car.
Over the past 30 years, the IIHS says U.S. passenger vehicles have, on average, become four inches wider, 10 inches longer, eight inches taller, and roughly 1,000 pounds heavier. While these changes may enhance in-cabin protection, the risks they pose to pedestrians have also increased.
IIHS findings show that vehicles with hood heights over 40 inches are approximately 45% more likely to cause pedestrian fatalities.
The risk isn’t limited to extra-tall vehicles. Models with more vertical front-end designs are also associated with higher rates of severe pedestrian injury and death, even if they’re slightly shorter in height.
“We’re seeing more ribs, abdomen, vital organs being injured in these crashes because these tall, blunt front ends are directly hitting these pedestrians,” Mueller explains.
She advocates for design regulations requiring lower, more sloped front ends to reduce pedestrian injuries.
Another major issue due to design is visibility. The concern is that the larger the vehicle, the larger the blind zone becomes.
Jenesee Beaudoin lost her 2-year-old daughter, Briley, in 2016 after accidentally striking her with an SUV in a relative’s driveway.
Briley had followed Jenesee outside, unnoticed, and was hidden in the vehicle’s blind zone.
Beaudoin has since connected with the nonprofit Kids and Car Safety to help raise awareness about vehicle blind spots.
“My personal opinion is that it doesn’t matter the size of the vehicle,” Beaudoin said. “Bigger vehicles are going to be driven. We’re not going to get rid of them. What matters is the technology and the safety equipment.”
She believes that every vehicle, from the base model to the luxury package, should have automatic braking, a 360 bird’s-eye view camera, and other safety sensors.
Lawmakers are beginning to take notice.
In August 2024, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania introduced the Pedestrian Protection Act, which would require new federal standards for hood height, bumper design, and driver visibility.
“I’ve owned SUVS, and I have kids, I have dogs, I have kayaks, so sometimes you do need a bigger vehicle, but if we can make them safer, then I think it’s important that we invest that effort,” said Scanlon.
Meanwhile, in September 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed new safety regulations aimed at better protection for people on foot.
Advocates like Janette Fennell of Kids and Car Safety believe that both regulation and design innovation must go further.
“You can’t avoid hitting something you cannot see,” Fennell said.
The IIHS also points to existing technology being used in other countries, like Volvo’s external pedestrian airbag. It was first introduced in Europe over a decade ago but has yet to reach the U.S. market.
Additionally, some experts emphasize the role of infrastructure and road design in improving pedestrian safety. These experts believe state and local jurisdictions should look at the following:
- Lower speed limits
- Protected crosswalks & medians
- Traffic-calming measures
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https://www.investigatetv.com/2025/05/15/sharing-road-research-shows-bigger-taller-vehicles-are-more-dangerous-pedestrians/