Truck Bloat: Is America Finally Ready to Slim Down the Roads?

The Rise of the “Killer Car”: US Government Takes Aim at SUV Safety for Pedestrians

The United States is in the midst of a pedestrian safety crisis. Every year, cars kill roughly 40,000 Americans, a number that has been steadily increasing in recent years. While automakers have made strides in protecting people inside vehicles, they have largely ignored the safety of those outside, especially pedestrians. This alarming trend has led to a growing outcry for change, and the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal agency responsible for regulating vehicle safety, has finally taken a significant step in addressing the issue.

In a move that stunned safety advocates, the NHTSA proposed new vehicle safety rules aimed at reducing pedestrian deaths. These rules, if enacted, are expected to significantly alter the way vehicles are designed in the United States. This monumental shift comes after decades of overlooking the dangers posed by the rising tide of behemoth SUVs and trucks, vehicles that are increasingly being recognized as “killer cars.”

The focus of these new regulations lies in addressing the growing concern about the size and weight of modern vehicles. Many safety experts argue that the increasing dominance of gargantuan SUVs and trucks has contributed directly to the rise in pedestrian fatalities. These vehicles, with their higher ride heights and massive front ends, are significantly more likely to cause serious injuries and death to pedestrians in crashes, compared to smaller midsize vehicles.

The new rules would update the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), the cornerstone of vehicle safety regulations in the US, to introduce new testing procedures designed to simulate head-to-hood impact scenarios. This is a groundbreaking measure, as it would require automakers to test their vehicles using crash test dummies representing both adult and child pedestrians for the first time.

"The US has never used pedestrian crash test dummies officially, " says Angie Schmitt, author of Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America, "I thought they were going to continue to avoid doing that even though Congress had sort of told them to do this — but apparently not.”

The NHTSA projects these changes could save up to 67 lives every year. While this is a positive step, many safety advocates believe it is far from enough.

"Considering NHTSA estimates the new standard would save 67 lives a year, it is a step in the right direction, but it still falls behind what Europe has successfully done," states Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. "Numerous proven solutions must be employed to improve the safety of all vulnerable road users."

The new rules come at a crucial juncture. The rise of SUVs and trucks has led to a dramatic increase in their weight. Data from a recent investigation by The Economist revealed that 31 percent of new cars sold in America in 2023 weighed over 5,000 pounds (2.27 tons), a significant jump from 22 percent in 2018. This trend is only expected to intensify with the rapid adoption of electric vehicles, many of which are even heavier than their gas-powered counterparts. The Ford F-150 Lightning, as a prime example, boasts a curb weight of around 6,500 pounds, roughly 60 percent heavier than its gasoline-powered sibling.

These heavy vehicles, often marketed for their perceived safety and practicality, have become a major threat to pedestrians, especially in urban environments and congested areas. The larger size and weight of these vehicles translate to higher impact forces in crashes, leading to more severe injuries and a higher likelihood of fatality.

The shape of a vehicle, especially the hood, also plays a crucial role in determining pedestrian safety. Vehicles with hood heights exceeding 40 inches and blunt front ends angled at greater than 65 degrees have been found to be 44 percent more likely to cause fatalities according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

While automakers often point to the advancement of technology in their vehicles, such as cameras, blindspot detection, and automatic braking systems, as solutions to pedestrian safety, they rarely acknowledge the critical role that vehicle design plays in mitigating the impact of crashes. This reluctance stems from the fact that SUVs and trucks are not only highly popular but also significantly more profitable than smaller cars. The profit margin for SUVs is estimated to be 10-20 percent higher than that of smaller vehicles, due to their higher sale price while only costing slightly more to manufacture.

The new NHTSA proposal represents a monumental shift in recognizing the role vehicle design plays in pedestrian safety. It acknowledges that relying solely on technology to prevent pedestrian deaths is insufficient and that fundamental changes to the design of vehicles are necessary.

This commitment to addressing the issue is a positive sign, but it is just the beginning. Significant work still needs to be done to create safer roads for pedestrians. This includes lowering speed limits, improving infrastructure, and increasing enforcement of traffic laws.

Many experts point to Europe, where strict regulations have significantly limited the size and weight of vehicles sold, effectively prioritizing pedestrian safety over vehicle profit. The US, however, has a long way to go to achieve similar levels of pedestrian protection.

The rise of the "killer car" is a serious public health crisis, and the NHTSA’s proposal is a crucial first step toward addressing it. However, true progress will depend on a multifaceted approach that incorporates vehicle design changes, improved infrastructure, and enhanced enforcement of traffic laws. The fight for safer streets for all Americans has just begun.

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