Enormous SUVs and pickup trucks aren't "safe" ANYWHERE, when it comes to folks outside the vehicle. The problem isn't that these vehicles too big for cities. The problem is that they're too big. And way too common.
Go check out stats on average vehicle weight and size, hood height, etc. over the past few decades. Then check the stats on w…
Enormous SUVs and pickup trucks aren't "safe" ANYWHERE, when it comes to folks outside the vehicle. The problem isn't that these vehicles too big for cities. The problem is that they're too big. And way too common.
Go check out stats on average vehicle weight and size, hood height, etc. over the past few decades. Then check the stats on what percentage of new vehicle sales are trucks and SUVs.
Do some people *need* big trucks and SUVs? Sure. (Though it's hard to imagine who exactly "needs" a lifted truck, or one with a perfectly vertical grill and a hood that's taller than my high-schooler.)
Are most such vehicles today driven by people who really need them? Not even close. The results are predictably awful for pedestrians, cyclists, children, and other vulnerable groups.
Somehow, this has all been normalized. It's bananas.
Not only that, but they’re not particularly safe for drivers and passengers either. They tend to be top-heavy and prone to rollovers, and the aggressive design tends to promote aggressive driving, leading to more crashes.
Enormous SUVs and pickup trucks aren't "safe" ANYWHERE, when it comes to folks outside the vehicle. The problem isn't that these vehicles too big for cities. The problem is that they're too big. And way too common.
Go check out stats on average vehicle weight and size, hood height, etc. over the past few decades. Then check the stats on what percentage of new vehicle sales are trucks and SUVs.
Do some people *need* big trucks and SUVs? Sure. (Though it's hard to imagine who exactly "needs" a lifted truck, or one with a perfectly vertical grill and a hood that's taller than my high-schooler.)
Are most such vehicles today driven by people who really need them? Not even close. The results are predictably awful for pedestrians, cyclists, children, and other vulnerable groups.
Somehow, this has all been normalized. It's bananas.
Not only that, but they’re not particularly safe for drivers and passengers either. They tend to be top-heavy and prone to rollovers, and the aggressive design tends to promote aggressive driving, leading to more crashes.