Vehicle Design Flaws Blamed for Rising U.S. Pedestrian Fatalities

A new study says pedestrian deaths in the U.S. have soared 46% since 2009 because of weak vehicle headlights and the proliferation of poorly designed SUV/crossover front ends.

The report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety notes that the number of fatalities during the period grew fastest in urban areas (+54%), along main artery roads (+67%), between rather than at intersections (+50%) and in the dark (+56%).

IIHS points out that SUVs account for a disproportionate share of fatal pedestrian crashes in part because they have taller and relatively vertical front ends that are more likely than a car to strike a pedestrian’s chest or head.

The institute adds that more effective headlamps, along with pedestrian detection systems, would help reduce such crashes, most of which occur at night. Last June IIHS reported that only two of 37 midsize SUV/crossover headlight systems it tested were “good.” The institute said 23 systems were “marginal” or “poor.”