Trucks and sport utility vehicles with hood heights greater than 40 inches are about 45% more likely to cause fatalities in pedestrian crashes than shorter vehicles with sloped hoods, according to new research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Maybe it’s how they are designed. I’ve sat in a number of them that have ugly blind spots. Back left is a big problem on a lot of them.
I’ve responded to a bunch of “car vs pedestrian” calls. With adults a low speed hit is usually some minor injuries like lower legs, arms, etc. If they’re hit hard sometimes their head hits the windshield. The victim ends up on top of the hood and rolls off the side or up and over the car.
If it’s a truck their injuries are more serious. Hip, rib, shoulder/arm, spine, and head injuries. They get hit high and knocked into the ground – and sometimes partially or completely run over.
Yes, it is.
Big cars are heavier, taller, and have larger blind spots. The first two make them deadlier in an accident, the last makes it easier to run someone over in a crosswalk, parking lot or driveway.