On Monday, federal safety regulators introduced new car safety standards aimed at enhancing protection for pedestrians and cyclists. These regulations will require all new vehicles to undergo testing that simulates an impact from the hood to a person’s head.
A Growing Concern
In recent years, SUVs and pickup trucks have increasingly dominated American roads, with vehicles steadily increasing in height. Compact and midsize SUVs are now the top-selling vehicles in the U.S., with the sizes of modern compact crossovers rivaling the midsize SUVs from two decades ago. Full-size trucks typically follow closely in sales rankings.
Car designs are as trend-driven as fashion, and recently, boxy and angular designs have become prevalent.
This trend raises significant safety concerns, as studies have demonstrated that taller, more angular vehicles pose a greater danger to pedestrians and cyclists.
Research indicates that these vehicles are more likely to collide with pedestrians compared to shorter cars. The elevated driving positions and boxy fronts create blind spots that hinder drivers’ visibility of individuals directly in front of them, especially children.
A 2021 analysis by Consumer Reports revealed that “some trucks had front blind spots 11 feet longer than certain sedans and 7 feet longer than many popular SUVs.”
Related — Safety Group: Pedestrian Deaths From Cars Reach 41-Year High
When a taller vehicle hits a pedestrian, the likelihood of fatality increases. For example, a lower car with a sloped hood typically strikes a pedestrian at a lower point on their body, causing them to rise and hit their head on the hood. Conversely, a high, blocky truck can strike a pedestrian higher on the body or directly in the head, increasing the risk of being thrown under the wheels.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which is supported by car insurance companies, “Pickups, SUVs, and vans with a hood height greater than 40 inches are about 45% more likely to cause fatalities in pedestrian crashes than vehicles with a hood height of 30 inches or less and a sloping profile.”
“Head-to-Hood” Test
In response to these concerns, the federal government’s leading vehicle safety agency has put forth a new testing procedure.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “The proposed standard would establish test procedures simulating a head-to-hood impact with performance requirements aimed at reducing head injury risks.”
This new test will complement the various crash tests that the agency already conducts, which are made available for prospective car buyers. Instead of merely crashing vehicles into dummies, NHTSA explained, the complexity of actual pedestrian accidents makes it challenging to recreate a typical scenario. Instead, test engineers will use two different impactors: one that simulates the head of a 6-year-old child and another that simulates an adult male pedestrian of average height to gauge injury forces.
This testing requirement will apply to all vehicles weighing under 10,000 pounds, not solely SUVs and trucks. Vehicles will be required to meet a “head injury criterion” during tests that simulate head-to-hood impacts.
The NHTSA reports that most pedestrian collisions occur at low speeds, particularly since people are usually crossing streets at intersections. Therefore, the tests will be conducted at speeds of 25 mph or lower.
A Proposal at This Stage
The process of implementing new federal regulations is lengthy. Agencies must first publish a proposal, as NHTSA did on Monday, and then accept public comments for 60 days.
Comments often come from industry representatives who may attempt to weaken the proposed measures. The agency must consider these comments before publishing a final rule.
NHTSA states that testing will commence two years after the final rule is published.
One of Several Proposals
This recent initiative comes shortly after a member of the U.S. House of Representatives launched a more stringent proposal—a law aimed at restricting the height of new vehicles.
While many proposed laws do not succeed, this recent initiative aligns with a Senate bill introduced in 2022, indicating an increasing momentum towards placing restrictions on the height of new vehicles.
Aligns with Global Standards
The proposed regulations also reflect a broader international effort.
NHTSA notes, “The proposed rule aligns with a directive from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to harmonize U.S. vehicle regulations with those globally, enhancing vehicle safety.”
A similar initiative from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe could impact many vehicles sold across various continents. Currently, automakers often market nearly identical models in both the U.S. and Europe, although some of the most popular American pickup trucks see limited availability beyond the U.S. and Mexico.
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