A new NYT analysis found that anyone shorter than 5-foot-6 — about half of American adults — would frequently be knocked to the ground in front of today's average vehicle.
I wonder what the front collision/auto braking feature will do to this trend. Hopefully it’ll erase it. Isnt it mandatory on US cars made after X date now?
This is probably caused by a combination of big vehicles and distracted driving (including smartphones and infotainment).
There are studies that link hood height to higher threat to pedestrians. But honestly, how could it not be that way. If you are hit by a vertical wall or by something at the height of your knees that throws you onto a hood, those two scenarios are not the same. Try it out some day, it really isn’t. Add to that that high hoods negatively impact visibility, substantially and I don’t need a study for simple facts of geometry.
Halari et al., 2026 (doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2025.2516717): “Compared to car impacts, pedestrians struck by high hood edge vehicles were more likely to be runover.”
Low hood regular cars make people fall unto the hood. Tall, vertical SUV hoods rather lead to people being pushed under the car in case of a front collision. The latter is much more deadly.
Metal spikes or other stuff extending sideways outwards is obviously a danger towards others and wildly illegal in civilised countries for a reason.
I wonder what the front collision/auto braking feature will do to this trend. Hopefully it’ll erase it. Isnt it mandatory on US cars made after X date now?
This is probably caused by a combination of big vehicles and distracted driving (including smartphones and infotainment).
not much, many pedestrians get side swiped and dragged under to their death by the Tonka wheels and lifted suspension.
plus, these are 100% legal.
And you’re basing “not much” on data and not Feels/anecdotal evidence?
This whole thread is based on feels since the data actually blames phone use not hood height.
There are studies that link hood height to higher threat to pedestrians. But honestly, how could it not be that way. If you are hit by a vertical wall or by something at the height of your knees that throws you onto a hood, those two scenarios are not the same. Try it out some day, it really isn’t. Add to that that high hoods negatively impact visibility, substantially and I don’t need a study for simple facts of geometry.
Halari et al., 2026 (doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2025.2516717): “Compared to car impacts, pedestrians struck by high hood edge vehicles were more likely to be runover.”
They are very rarely getting side swipped and dragged to death like this. And those lug covers aren’t causing issues.
Low hood regular cars make people fall unto the hood. Tall, vertical SUV hoods rather lead to people being pushed under the car in case of a front collision. The latter is much more deadly.
Metal spikes or other stuff extending sideways outwards is obviously a danger towards others and wildly illegal in civilised countries for a reason.