Big Surprise: Taller Vehicles Are More Dangerous for Pedestrians, Study Says

As speeds increase, so does the likelihood of a serious pedestrian injury. But if the vehicle involved is taller, the results are worse.

Brian Silvestro

By: Brian Silvestro

Dec 12, 2024 at 10:45am ET

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A study released Tuesday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that taller vehicles are more likely to seriously injure pedestrians in an impact.

Researchers analyzed 202 pedestrian crashes and discovered that as vehicle speeds went up, so did the likelihood of a serious pedestrian injury. That's no surprise. The IIHS also discovered that the risk of serious injury was magnified when the vehicle involved had a taller front end.

"A small increase in crash speed can really ramp up the danger to a pedestrian," IIHS President David Harkey said in a statement. "Our fondness for tall SUVs and pickups in the U.S. has intensified that effect."

BMW i3 on street amongst pedestrians

The IIHS cites one example that showed when speeds increase from 15 to 35 miles per hour the risk of a serious injury jumps from 9 percent to 52 percent. But when a taller vehicle—the IIHS uses a medium-sized pickup for this example—is involved, that number shoots from 11 percent to 91 percent. That's a huge increase.

According to the IIHS, these findings suggest the current 25-mph speed limit commonly used in residential neighborhoods and city centers might be too high. New York City confirmed in October plans to reduce speed limits on some of its roads to 20 mph, focusing on streets near schools and shared roads.

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The results of this study coincide with a previous study released by the IIHS in November 2023, which suggested vehicles with vertical, boxier front ends are more deadly for pedestrians.

"This study is a vivid illustration of how multiple factors—in this case, speed and vehicle height—converge to create negative outcomes on the road,” Harkey added. “Similarly, it will take a combination of actions from different corners of the transportation world to improve pedestrian safety."