Big SUVs And Trucks: A Public Health Crisis?

We all know that the cars on our roadways are getting bigger. Trucks are getting larger, SUVs are getting bigger, and carmakers are rolling out new models that are truck and SUV based, leaving behind smaller, more compact vehicles.

But does all of that come at some kind of public safety risk? A recent article says yes—and in fact, compares the proliferation of large vehicles to the proliferation of smoking from 30, 40 or 50 years ago.

Studies Show Fatalities Increase With Bigger Vehicles

According to the article, most Americans, while craving large cars, aren’t aware of the dangers that these larger vehicles are causing on the roadways. Sure, people inside the vehicle tend to be safer, if the vehicle is larger—this is a large selling point for these cars.

But from a public safety standpoint, the safety to those inside the vehicle, may not be worth the devastation that occurs when a larger truck or SUV crashes into just a “normal sized” vehicle.

One study showed that for every life inside of a heavy SUV that may be saved because of the car’s sheer size, 12 other lives outside the vehicle may be lost.

In another sobering statistic, the studies show that out of 10,000 crashes, about 37 people will die, when there is a large SUV or truck involved. Compare that with just 5.7 deaths per 10,000 crashes, when normal sized cars are involved. Lowering the weight of the heaviest vehicles by 1,000 pounds, would lower fatalities by about 12%.

Other Dangers of Size

Not only do larger cars tend to devastate those they crash into, they may be more prone to accidents. Their sheer size gives larger cars bigger blind spots, including front blind spots, where a car can be so tall that the driver cannot see things directly in front of the vehicle.

And the height of these bigger cars means that if a pedestrian is struck, he or she is going to be hit in the head or torso—a deadly place for a person to be hit by a vehicle.

Political Obstacles to Making Cars Smaller

Politicians face two hurdles to regulating or limiting the size of vehicles.

The first are manufacturers themselves, who make a lot of money selling large vehicles, and who wouldn’t take kindly to having to make their best selling models smaller.

The other hurdle is the American people themselves; many Americans want and enjoy driving in these larger vehicles. Americans love their cars and identity with them; taking away someone’s larger truck is not like taking away a sugary soda, a dangerous product, or a cigarette—people don’t take kindly to being told what car they can or cannot drive.

Because they don’t realise the danger these larger vehicles present, there isn’t any willingness by the general public to sacrifice buying or driving them, or to demand that politicians take action. .

Injured by a truck or SUV? Let us help. Contact our Rhode Island injury lawyers at Robert E. Craven & Associates at 401-453-2700 today.

Sources:

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212012224000017

vox.com/future-perfect/391733/gigantic-suvs-are-a-public-health-threat-why-dont-we-treat-them-like-one

motortrend.com/features/why-americas-roads-keep-getting-deadlier-safety-research/