Pedestrian fatalities up 75% since 2009; larger trucks and SUVs are a key factor, NYT/IIHS study finds
By
Byron Hurd
Summary
A New York Times and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study reveals that pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. have risen 75% since 2009, reversing decades of decline. The primary driver is the increasing size, height, and weight of vehicles — particularly giant trucks and SUVs. The analysis found that anyone shorter than 5-foot-6 (about half of American adults) would frequently be knocked to the ground in front of today's average vehicle, and thousands of deaths could have been prevented if vehicle dimensions had remained stable over the past 16 years.
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Hacker NewsPedestrian fatalities up 75% since 2009; larger trucks and SUVs are a key factor, NYT/IIHS study findsthedrive.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledAfter decades of declines, pedestrian fatalities have been steadily increasing since the Great Recession.
Deep down, we already knew why: it's because the cars keep getting bigger.
According to a new study by The New York Times and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, thousands of deaths would have been prevented over the past 16 years if cars had not grown so significantly in both height and weight.
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