Larger, Taller Vehicles Are 3x Worse For Pedestrians

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released a new study highlighting a critical—and often overlooked—factor in pedestrian safety: vehicle height.

As Americans increasingly gravitate toward taller SUVs and pickup trucks, the risk to pedestrians is growing. The connection between vehicle speed and pedestrian injuries has long been understood, with higher vehicle speeds naturally correlating to more severe outcomes. However, the IIHS study, which analyzed 202 crashes between 2015 and 2022, reveals that vehicle height plays a similarly significant role.

At 27 mph, the average speed in the crashes studied, a typical car caused moderate injuries to pedestrians 60% of the time and serious injuries 30% of the time. A pickup truck with a front end 13 inches higher doubled the risk of serious injury to 62%.

“Higher vehicle front ends significantly increase the likelihood of moderate and serious pedestrian injuries,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “Our fondness for tall SUVs and pickups in the U.S. has intensified that effect.”

The study doesn’t shy away from calling out consumer preferences as a driving factor. Americans’ love for larger vehicles is exacerbating the problem. These vehicles are two to three times more likely to cause pedestrian fatalities than smaller cars, according to previous research cited by the IIHS.

Of course, the automakers shouldn't be exonerated—they've been trying to move people into larger vehicles for years in the name of profit margins, and regulatory breaks, often modeling the behavior for consumers and in some cases, outright not actually offering smaller vehicle choices. Yes, I'm looking at you domestic automakers.

The IIHS suggests multiple measures to curb pedestrian injuries, including lowering speed limits in residential areas to 15 mph. At that speed, the likelihood of serious injury drops to just 10%, with the risk of fatality approaching zero. Traffic-calming infrastructure, such as speed bumps and narrower streets, could also help reduce vehicle speeds.

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