Large vehicles are becoming a problem. They are certainly trendy. Over the last few decades, SUVs and pickup trucks have gotten much taller and much heavier than they used to be. Many people buy these vehicles even when they aren’t necessary – such as someone commuting to their office job alone in their seven-passenger SUV.
The problem here is that these vehicles are deadly, especially for pedestrians. Some studies have found that tall SUVs and trucks are 45% more likely to kill a pedestrian in an accident than smaller vehicles. There are two main reasons why this is true.
The driver can’t see
To start with, drivers in these vehicles often cannot see pedestrians. The vehicles are just too tall, and they have blunt front ends with flat hoods. This creates a massive blind spot in front of the vehicle.
If a child is walking through a crosswalk, for instance, while a pick-up truck driver is waiting to turn right, the driver may not be able to see the child at all. They think that the road is clear for them to turn, and they unexpectedly strike the pedestrian.
Frontover accidents
The second reason is that tall, blunt front ends are more likely to knock pedestrians over. They are then struck by the tires of the vehicle in what is known as a frontover accident. If the hood was lower, not only would the driver be able to see, but the pedestrian would be more likely to get knocked onto the hood. They may suffer serious leg injuries, but they are far more likely to survive the accident.
Unfortunately, with how prevalent these oversized vehicles are, these accidents are just going to continue happening. Be sure you know your options if you’ve lost a loved one or suffered injuries.