Why Today’s SUVs Are Lethal for Pedestrians and Cyclists

Motor vehicle collisions involving people on foot or on bikes are among the worst and most tragic types of crashes, often resulting in serious injury or death. A pedestrian or cyclist crossing an intersection or traveling on the side of the road has no chance against a speeding machine made of thousands of pounds of metal. For decades, experts believed that it did not matter what type of vehicle was involved in these types of accidents – in man versus machine, machine will always win.

And that is true. However, a study released last spring by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) showed that not all vehicles are equal when it comes to pedestrian and bike collisions.

The IIHS is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce deaths and injuries from motor vehicle crashes. In this study, they set out to determine whether pedestrian-SUV crash outcomes differed greatly from pedestrian-car crash outcomes. Because SUVs in general have adopted more car-like features over the past few years, like a lower center of gravity, researchers wanted to understand how these changes have affected pedestrian or bicyclist risk factors.

The good news? The IIHS reports that the number of people killed in motor vehicle crashes here in the U.S. has dropped – from over 50,000 in 1980 to 36,600 in 2018 – partly due to safety advancements in automobiles. The bad news, however, is that pedestrians killed in car crashes has steadily risen over the past decade.

IIHS Statistician Sam Monfort, lead author of the study, said, “The proportion of SUVs in the U.S. fleet has grown dramatically, so it’s discouraging that they still seem to be more deadly to pedestrians than cars are.”

What did the study find out?

In their study, researchers collected and analyzed data from more than 36 car crashes involving pedestrians in urban areas in Michigan. Some of the more notable findings include:

• When impacts occurred at speeds over 19mph, SUVs caused greater injuries to pedestrians than passenger cars
• At speeds of 20 to 39mph, 30% of crashes with SUVs resulted in a pedestrian fatality, as opposed to 23% for passenger cars
• At speeds of 40mph or higher, 100% of crashes with SUVs resulted in a pedestrian fatality, as opposed to 54% for passenger cars
• At speeds of 20mph or lower, the difference between vehicles is minimal, and pedestrians typically experience minor injuries

The organization also pointed out that from 2009 to 2018, SUVs experienced a 29 percent increase in the market, accounting for one-third of the United States passenger vehicle fleet. During the same period, the number of pedestrians involved in fatal car collisions increased by 53 percent.

“Pedestrians now account for 17% of all traffic fatalities, a proportion unseen since 1982,” the report said.

Why are SUVs so much more dangerous to Maryland pedestrians?

The most obvious explanation as to why SUVs are more deadly to pedestrians and cyclists is simply because SUVs are bigger – and heavier – than passenger cars. However, there is more to it than just size and weight. The IIHS reports that when a pedestrian is struck by an SUV rather than a car, they are more likely to be thrown forward, and twice as likely to suffer serious hip and thigh injuries.

The cause of these injuries is the impact with the vehicle’s bumper, grille, or headlights. Researchers explain this is “likely because the high point of the front profile, or ‘leading edge,’ of most new SUVs is still considerably higher than that of the average car.”

They continued, “In a crash with a traditional, block-front SUV, the grille strikes the pedestrian’s pelvis or chest split seconds after the bumper hits the lower extremities, transferring more energy to the pedestrian’s body. It’s possible that a more sloping profile could do less damage.”

The hope is to use this research to help design a safer SUV – not just for its occupants, but for bicyclists and pedestrians caught in its path.

If you or a loved one were injured in a collision with an SUV or other vehicle, talk to the Maryland injury attorneys at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. today. We can help you seek the compensation to which you are entitled. To schedule a free consultation about your case, please call 410-730-7737 or use our contact form.