Ever-larger cars and trucks are causing a safety crisis on US streets – here’s how communities can fight back
Ever-larger cars and trucks are causing a safety crisis on US streets – here’s how communities can fight back
Cars are getting bigger on US roads, and that’s increasing pedestrian and cyclist deaths. A transport scholar identifies community-level strategies for making streets safer.
Bigger vehicles can be safer in crashes, but far more dangerous for pedestrians.
And the average size of cars and trucks in the U.S. continues to grow. Some current models – like that of the Toyota Rav4 – are a third larger than they were only 15 years ago.
That’s led to a 77% increase in pedestrian fatalities since 2010.
tl;dr tell local officials you want to make roads narrower, make parking spaces smaller, put posts and bollards to restrict access to roads, and restrict vehicle access to roads by schools
Overall, the rise in pedestrian deaths are due to taller and heavier vehicles. Sedans and station wagons had low bumper heights and allowed for pedestrians to roll over the hood. Crossovers and trucks now allow for pedestrians to see the underside of a car more easily
The heavier weight in cars not only means that more energy is transferred in a collision at the same speed, it also damages the road more. This problem is exasperated with EVs due to the heavy battery packs. New York has a bill (stuck in committee) that proposes a new progressive registration fee based on vehicle weight. The heavier the car, the more you exponentially pay to keep it registered 
Unfortunately, change like this requires that some grassroots efforts are to be made to roll out these changes. It all starts with you talking to your local city officials to make these changes happen
To add to this, if you see a particularly bad intersection, point, whatever: report it!
I've used my city's online tool to get a crosswalk repainted (which slowed vehicles).
I also did a location visit with my neighborhood councillor and a roads guy to the local school during drop off. I don't have results yet, but it kicked off a study from the traffic guy, and my councillor seem to be keeping the follow up.