Americans' preference for large, tall vehicles could be making pedestrian collisions more risky, according to researchers at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
A recent IIHS study found the size of American vehicles makes serious pedestrian injuries more likely in crashes when compared to pedestrian injuries in Europe, where cars are typically smaller. Researchers found that impact speed predicted injury risk, while the height of the vehicle's hood significantly increased pedestrian risk. "In general, higher vehicle front ends increased the likelihood of both moderate and serious pedestrian injuries," IIHS said.
Researchers found that when a median-height pickup — which has a front end roughly 13 inches higher than most cars — hits a pedestrian at 27 mph, there's an 83% chance of moderate injury and a 62% chance of serious injury. For a median-height car going the same speed, there's just a 60% chance of moderate injury and a 30% chance of serious injury.
If crash speed is increased, there's even greater risk with taller vehicles. With a median-height car, at 15 mph, the risk of a serious injury is 9%. At 35 mph, it's 52%. With a median-height pickup truck, the risk is 11% at 15 mph — and 91% at 35 mph.
A 2022 IIHS study found that drivers of larger vehicles are also more likely to hit pedestrians when making turns. And a 2023 IIHS study found that pickups, SUVs and vans with hoods higher than 40 inches were 45% more likely to cause pedestrian fatalities in crashes than cars and vehicles with lower hoods.
"The majority of passenger vehicles on U.S. roads today are SUVs or pickups," said Sam Monfort, IIHS senior statistician, in a statement. "These choices have very real consequences for pedestrian safety."
The slideshow above highlights the top states for pedestrian fatalities according to Everly Life.
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