Pedestrian Deaths and Large Vehicles

America needs to set pedestrian and cyclist safety standards for motor vehicles. Europe has mandated survivability in crashes at certain speeds, but America continues to believe that the only relevant actor that needs safety in America&#x27;s transportation network is the driver of their own vehicle. Here&#x27;s an article from 2007 (!) [1] that talks about how America continues to try to focus on driver education, despite America consistently having some of the laxest drivers&#x27; license standards in the Western world. A recipe for a public health disaster indeed. No wonder Americans see anything other than a car as impractical; anyone other than a driver or a passenger is a safety afterthought.<p>EDIT: Here&#x27;s a more recent take on the same issue. Not much has changed apparently. [2]<p>1: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.thetruthaboutcars.com&#x2F;2007&#x2F;12&#x2F;the-truth-about-europes-pedestrian-safety-legislation&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.thetruthaboutcars.com&#x2F;2007&#x2F;12&#x2F;the-truth-about-eu...</a><p>2: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;usa.streetsblog.org&#x2F;2017&#x2F;12&#x2F;07&#x2F;while-other-countries-mandate-safer-car-designs-for-pedestrians-america-does-nothing&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;usa.streetsblog.org&#x2F;2017&#x2F;12&#x2F;07&#x2F;while-other-countries...</a>

For the overwhelmingly majority of owners, large trucks are completely unnecessary.<p>Non-owners effectively subsidize them when you factor in the huge negative externalities they impose, including on the environment, the wear and tear on roads, the public safety hazards, production opportunity costs, etc.<p>This thread summarizes things well: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;twitter.com&#x2F;PostCultRev&#x2F;status&#x2F;1419689420714700805?s=20" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;twitter.com&#x2F;PostCultRev&#x2F;status&#x2F;1419689420714700805?s...</a>

Large vehicles, especially pickups with high hood heights, are a public health disaster; a deliberate atrocity on the part of those who manufacture and sell them; and a gross dereliction of duty on the part of those who should be regulating their proliferation. In addition to killing pedestrians at high rates, they disproportionately kill occupants of other vehicles too--one study I saw recently found a 2.5x increase in fatality rate in cars colliding with trucks vs. other cars.

Brasilia has a much higher number of pedestrian deaths compared to similar cities in Brazil, or other parts of the world. Why? Its (terrible) design.<p>Do not forget that city design has a huge impact on pedestrian deaths. In essence: larger roads, more deaths. Fewer deaths in old cities, because of narrower streets from past centuries.

It looks like the author has a link to this study as a PDF:<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justintyndall.com&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2&#x2F;8&#x2F;5&#x2F;5&#x2F;28559839&#x2F;tyndall_pedestrian.pdf" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justintyndall.com&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2&#x2F;8&#x2F;5&#x2F;5&#x2F;28559839&#x2F;tyndal...</a>

Interesting data, Minivans are the real boogyman. Maybe this has to do with the demographics of the drivers &#x2F; passengers?<p>Also important to point out, a 2021 Oddesy or Sienna weighs within 100-200 lbs of an F150 depending on the trim level.

<a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.iihs.org&#x2F;topics&#x2F;fatality-statistics&#x2F;detail&#x2F;pedes" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.iihs.org&#x2F;topics&#x2F;fatality-statistics&#x2F;detail&#x2F;pedes</a>... has a lot of interesting statistics on this matter.<p>Seems like the largest unique cohorts at risk are intoxicated people in urban areas at night and the elderly. Not sure blaming truck and SUV design is the most effective solution to this problem as it seems mental status is a big player here.

The reason why US cars are so big are because of recent (within the last decade) safety standards. Cars could be much smaller and more efficient, but because of safety standards...they&#x27;re massive now.