SUVs, pickup trucks, pickup trucks, and minivans are much more likely than cars to hit walkers in curves.
The likelihood that a turn of fate that killed a pedestrian at or near an intersection would refer to a left turn through the vehicle compared to not turning about twice as high for SUVs, nearly 3 times higher for pickup trucks and minivans, and about 4 times higher for pickup trucks than for cars, and the reason is that the drivers of many of those giant cars don’t have such a clear view of other people crossing the street.
Here are the highlights of a new study released Thursday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a nonprofit funded by the insurance industry, that analyzed national federal statistics of fatal pedestrian injuries.
“We already know that larger cars cause more serious injuries when they hit pedestrians,” Jessica Cicchino, vice president of studies at the Insurance Institute and one of the study’s authors, said in a statement. Non-unusual pedestrian injuries indicate how the buildup in the number of SUVs on the roads can replace the image of injuries. “
Pedestrian deaths have increased in years. The growing number of larger cars on the road is considered a factor, the researchers said.
A pedestrian cover device, which softens bumpers and modifies the front ends of cars to the severity of an impact with pedestrians, is not mandatory in the United States, where only six of the 8 vehicle defense criteria that precede the United Nations are required by law. it is mandatory in the European Union, Australia and Japan.
Previous studies by the insurance institute found that SUVs and pickup trucks, which have gained popularity in the United States, “are more fatal to pedestrians than cars. “the vehicle is running, it is more likely to happen with SUVs, vans, vans and minivans.
Right turns are also problematic. The chances of a fate spin killing a pedestrian passing by the vehicle were 89 percent higher for pickup trucks and 63 percent higher for pickup trucks than for cars.
Design can play a role.
“It’s imaginable that the size, shape or location of the A-pillars that aid the roof on either side of the windshield will make it harder for drivers of those giant cars to see pedestrians crossing when they turn,” said Wen Hu, head of transportation. an engineer at the insurance institute, he said in a statement.
Previous studies have shown that A-pillars can create blind spots, which enlarge as they widen, but larger, heavier passenger cars need more powerful pillars for occupants in the event of a rollover.
According to the new report, other design elements of larger vehicles, such as maximum driving height and long fronts, can also prevent drivers from seeing pedestrians. However, some answers are promising. These come with automatic emergency braking systems (AEB) that can trip and dodge pedestrians or slow down; airbags on the hood; caps that open automatically when they take effect. and more susceptible front ends.
More testing related to the role of design in visibility and for A-pillars across the vehicle type is needed, the institute said.
“Improving vehicle design, as well as managing road infrastructure and vehicle speed, can help reduce pedestrian injuries and deaths,” Hu added.
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