Higher point of impact makes SUV crashes more dangerous for cyclists
Higher point of impact makes SUV crashes more dangerous for cyclists
Fatal bicycle crash rates have risen dramatically over the past decade. The increasing numbers of SUVs in the U.S. fleet, and their taller front ends, could help explain why.
Ground-impact injuries — a frequent cause of head injuries — were more than twice as common in SUV crashes than those involving cars, the study showed. The findings follow earlier IIHS research that showed SUVs are more lethal than cars to pedestrians despite design changes that have made them less dangerous to other vehicles. That study also traced the increased risk to the height of SUVs’ front ends.
Fatal bicycle crash rates have risen dramatically over the past decade. In 2020, 932 bicyclists were killed on U.S. roads, up from a low of 621 in 2010. One reason may be the dominance of pickups and SUVs in the U.S. vehicle fleet. Research consistently shows that such larger vehicles are more dangerous to bicyclists than cars.
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I’d love it if cars in the US got smaller again. People everywhere else in the world get by ok without having a pickup the size of a semi truck. Don’t know why it’s so accepted in the US.
I can tell you: it's CAFE regulations.
I get that but imo anybody who drives a big truck or suv should be shunned by society.
There is a large part of society that has essentially built a parallel society, specifically to support people like this
Yep. Name and shame 'em.
It should be socially embarrassing to be seen driving one. Then only people who need them for their utility will keep using them.
How do we fix those or get rid of them?
Congress passed the bill back in the 70s. They'd have to pass another bill to undo it. With corporate lobbying from the auto manufacturers it's very unlikely. They make bank on SUVs and trucks. Hell, the only model Ford sells that isn't a truck or SUV is the Mustang.
I would love if the US had kei cars. Or a class of smaller cheaper electric cars (the kind you see on Alibaba/amazon) with a top speed of forty mph https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kei_car
They don't need to be cheap or low quality either. There are premium cars like Honda e. And regular all rounders like Nissan Sakura.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighborhood_Electric_Vehicle
This exists. Not quite 40 but still.
Microcars don't really work in the US because nearly all road development is designed around allowing everyone to get anywhere in a very big very fast car.
What is the benefit to owning a small or slow car in most parts of the US?
That's why I would like it to have a top speed of 40mph. I would like a small car that I can ride the rather short distance to work or a store in all weather and be able to keep up with the average speed limit of 30.