Massive hazards: new RTZ report on light trucks (Road to Zero Coalition)

The Road to Zero Coalition has released a new report, “Massive Hazards: How Bigger, Heavier Light Trucks Endanger Lives on American Roads.” This is the first report to provide a comprehensive picture of what research says about the safety risks of oversized passenger vehicles — SUVs, vans and pickup trucks. This analysis, compiled by members of the Road to Zero Coalition’s Vehicle Design Task Force, shows how light trucks are fueling a roadway safety crisis that collectively takes over 40,000 lives annually, enabled by inadequate regulations and outdated policies.

What makes SUVs, pickups and vans so deadly? This report presents to the American public exactly what their dangers are:

• Their height and weight relative to pedestrians.
• Crash incompatibility with smaller cars.
• Unique front-end geometry and stiffness.
• Large blind zones.
• Compounding impacts of speed and acceleration.

For decades, automakers have been incentivized to produce these vehicles. Consumers have become part of an “arms race” where they buy them for their own safety, but in doing so, actually increase the danger to other road users. The move towards electrification of vehicles presents an added challenge, as their batteries can contribute hundreds or even thousands of pounds of additional weight, exacerbating the safety challenge.

Access the full report on the National Safety Council website.