‘It’s over the moment you get hit’ Pedestrian safety ranked worst in U.S., car impacts stagnate.

Are Big Cars Safer?
They are the Worst for Pedestrians
Death Rates Differ by Size

There is a perception that bigger cars are safer. To some extent, this is true. The larger the car body, the more space there is to absorb shock, so it can relatively safely protect the passengers. However, this only applies to the passengers in the car. If a pedestrian is hit by a large SUV or pickup truck, the damage is inevitably greater than if hit by a small car. The problem is pointed out that these types of vehicles are increasing as the competition for SUV size intensifies. What were the results of a recent study in the United States that researched the correlation between vehicle size and shape in car versus pedestrian accidents?

Article by Journalist Lee Jeong-hyun

Photo Source = YouTube Channel ‘Euro NCAP’

Chevrolet Tahoe / Photo Source = Online Community The Higher the Front, the More DangerousDeath Rate Increases by 45% The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States announced the results of a study on approximately 18,000 pedestrian collision accidents that occurred in the United States. According to the report, vehicles with a bonnet end height of 40 inches (about 1,016mm) or more have a 45% higher pedestrian mortality rate than sedans with a height of 30 inches (about 762mm) or less, regardless of the shape of the front. Vehicles that fall between 30 and 40 inches increase the possibility of pedestrian death as the shape of the front becomes more vertical. Recently in Korea, there has been a trend of increasing pickup trucks and SUVs emphasizing a tough charm with angular designs. Representative models include the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, Land Rover Defender, and Hyundai Santa Fe, all of which have applied angular designs. The pickup truck market is still limited in variety, but the launch of new cars such as the electric pickup truck based on the Torres EVX and the Kia Tasman is expected in the future.

Comparison of Pedestrian Death Probability According to Bonnet Height and Shape / Photo Source = ‘IIHS’

Comparison of Pedestrian Death Probability According to Bonnet Height and Shape / Photo Source = ‘IIHS’ Bonnet Shape Also Influences Death Rate

Angular Design is 26% Higher
In this study, IIHS investigated 2,958 vehicles involved in 17,897 pedestrian accidents. They also considered several factors that could influence the mortality rate, such as the gender and age of the accident victims. For vehicles with a bonnet end height of 40 inches or more, the slope of the bonnet did not have a significant impact. However, the difference in injury risk due to the shape of the bonnet was significant. Vehicles with an angular bonnet shape increased the risk of injury from secondary impact by bouncing the pedestrian off in an accident. Vehicles with a sloping bonnet increased the risk by strongly hitting the pedestrian’s head down onto the bonnet. However, vehicles with a bonnet end height of 30 to 40 inches showed different mortality rates depending on the slope of the bonnet. Vehicles with a gentle slope on the bonnet had a similar pedestrian mortality rate to regular sedans, but angular designs showed a 26% higher death rate.
Hyundai Santa Fe / Photo Source = ‘View H’

Kia Mohave / Photo Source = ‘Wikipedia’

Death Accidents Increase by 80% in 14 YearsCars Have Been Consistently Getting Bigger

According to the IIHS, pedestrian death accidents have increased by more than 80% since 2009, when the lowest record was set. In particular, in 2021, there were 7,400 cases, which means that more than 20 pedestrians died in car accidents every day. David Harkey, the president of IIHS, said, “These results mean that our instincts were right. Vehicles with aggressive designs can actually cause more damage to pedestrians.” Meanwhile, cars have been consistently getting bigger and taller. The average size of cars in the United States has increased by about 250mm in length, about 100mm in width, and about 200mm in height compared to 30 years ago. The weight has increased by more than 450kg. The preference for large cars in Korea is also not expected to be much different.