Posted on 03/17/2022 6:16:43 AM PDT by devane617
Drivers of bigger vehicles such as pickup trucks and SUVs are more likely to hit pedestrians while making turns than drivers of cars, according to a new study.
The research released Thursday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety points to the increasing popularity of larger vehicles as a possible factor in rising pedestrian deaths on U.S. roads. The authors also questioned whether wider pillars holding up roofs of the larger vehicles make it harder for drivers to spot people walking near the corners of vehicles.
“The link between these vehicle types and certain common pedestrian crashes points to another way that the increase in SUVs on the roads might be changing the crash picture,” said Jessica Cicchino, a study author and vice president of research for the institute.
Although the study mentioned previous research showing blind spots caused by the “A-pillars” between the windshield and the cabin, the authors said more study is needed to link the blind spots to the increased deaths.
(Excerpt) Read more at mypanhandle.com ...
Personally, my wife’s SUV excels at hitting deer.
“Unaware pedestrians will be getting mowed over like deer”
That’s something that doesn’t get enough attention.
Volunteering on my church parking team I’ve almost stepped out into the path of one of these silent vehicles on several occasions not to mention other times.
It’s a real safety issue IMO.
Along with the drivers. It’s a double whammy.
>the study mentioned previous research showing blind spots caused by the “A-pillars” between the windshield and the cabin,
Because sedans and hatchbacks don’t have A-pillars? In what alternate universe?
I was hit by an suv in a parking lot this year. She was paying attention to her passenger not where she was going. No excuses because I was directly in line of sight mid of the front grill. Wasn’t serious but didn’t help my day
Next, the morons will be calling them “Trump vehicles”.
Demonizing larger vehicles so that they’ll be easier to ban/outlaw from the “unwashed masses”.
When driving down an interstate, 4 out of the 5 drivers who are weaving in and out of traffic while going 90 mph are in pickups. They think it gives them a big d***.
“The authors also questioned whether wider pillars holding up roofs of the larger vehicles make it harder for drivers to spot people walking near the corners of vehicles.”
Duh. More scientific survivalism via grants.
How about some actual hard data points?
Such as:
Pedestrian inattention (handheld devices, blaring earbud music)
Pedestrian violations (running across roadway, failure to use crosswalk)
Pedestrian under the influence
Pedestrian adhering to the ‘magic white line’ fallacy (i.e., failing to ensure traffic is absent or stopped before entering roadway)
(far from a complete list, but topping my own)
I personally know a person whose brother was critically injured getting off a bus and walking around the front directly into traffic. He was drunk. He suffered major head trauma and requires daily ‘assisted living’.
I learned on my own before age 10 to look at a driver’s eyes before entering traffic.
The more time that goes on, these biased statistics on pedestrian deaths and the resultant policies - aka ‘Vision Zero’ - smack more of a cudgel against motor vehicles in general than of pedestrian safety.
But you still get the same points, right?
How much is it for a walker...50? 75 for a jogger. 100 for a cyclist. 200 for a motorcyclist? Isn’t there an app to keep up with your score?
There was a video posted a week ago, sometime around then, that showed exactly this.
Made you think the driver just hit a person on purpose. I bet the person driving didn’t see the person he hit. I can’t imagine hitting someone on purpose unless you are a crazed criminal
And plenty of Ford Pinto’s never blew up, and old Ford trucks with gas tanks in the cab never leaked in accidents... but that doesn’t mean the design problems weren’t real and didn’t contribute to problems.
Its clear from the numbers, there is SOMETHING that is affecting it, and it’s not simply pedestrians aren’t paying attention.
Don’t get me going! Sorry - soapbox!
“Although the study mentioned previous research showing blind spots caused by the “A-pillars” between the windshield and the cabin, the authors said more study is needed to link the blind spots to the increased deaths.”
I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR DECADES!
It’s NOT just trucks, though their height makes it harder to see pedestrians.
WE ARE BEING STRAIT-JACKETED FOR OUR OWN GOOD INTO MORE ACCIDENTS!
(Same with “kid left in car” - because they’re little and asleep in the back seat in a strait-jacket baby seat, it’s easy to forget them, or figure it’s too much pain to get them out and in for a 5-min pop into the convenience store. Tell me it’s not true.)
As a car nut I’ve noticed more and more - and been “victim” or “perp” of - these very blind-spot incidents.
Please note all the “safety” features today, including beepers, back-up cameras, etc. IT’S BECAUSE YOU CAN’T TURN AND SEE OUT OF THE CAR!!!!!
The other year I DID NOT SEE a minivan coming toward my exit from the neighborhood (special because you are heading up a slope to get out) ON MY DRIVER SIDE! As I pulled onto the main drag I suddenly saw this minivan swerve a bit and I floored to get across the road. This was my old Monte Carlo, ‘02. This was the worst instance of that A pillar blocking my vision. And I KNEW about the C pillar being very long AND wide (crumple frame), and I further had difficulty because of the damned HIGH HEADRESTS - I learned after I bought it that when I turn back to driver’s side, I have to also lean sideways a bit to get a decent view.
We have newer cars and they are recognizing - but not saying - these “safety features” are dangerous because they put cameras on our cars. Big freakin’ deal.
KEEP ME OUT OF THE ACCIDENT - BETTER THAN SAVING ME DURING THE ACCIDENT!
No, see my rant. #32.
They are regulating safety to the point it is causing more accidents in the first place!
Blame government, being Safety NAZIs, ironically.
Gonna have to agree more with posts 25 and 27. And no, I’m not for banning vehicles. But A LOT of people drive like idiots. Impatient. Too fast. Make turns too sharp going up into walking paths. I do a lot of walking for exercise. But I’ve been angry a lot while driving. People yacking on cell phones. Cruising through stop signs. “Don’t worry, I was watching for both of us,” I’ve said in my car.
I’ve seen at least 3 people texting while driving, one doing about 35. For how many feet are their eyes off the road?
Typical confusion of correlation versus causation. I.e., if there are more larger vehicles then of course they will be involved in more incidents.
Geesh.
What is the ratio of male vrs female drivers involved in these accidents? My guess is it’s not close to 50/50.
Women texting while driving SUV.
The article also states it's while making turns.
Just like spoons made me fat, SUVs and pickups hit pedestrians, and guns kill people.
My Kia Soul is a small SUV, but the front pillars are not the problem with mine. It’s the rear pillars doing the interfering. If I’m trying to change lanes, going into the lane to the right of me, the right rear pillar is a big detriment to me seeing traffic just to my right and behind me.
“But you still get the same points, right?”
Double if you leave the shoes in the crosswalk...
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