75% More Pedestrians Have Been Killed Since 2009. Giant Trucks and SUVs Are Why

Pedestrian fatalities in the United States have surged 75% since 2009, with a new study linking this increase directly to the rise of larger vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks. Researchers estimate that 200-400 pedestrian deaths annually—and approximately 3,000 deaths between 2016 and 2024—could have been prevented if vehicles had remained their previous size, as larger vehicles' height, weight, and blind spots create greater collision risks. The shift toward bigger cars was inadvertently encouraged by post-2008 regulatory changes in emissions and fuel economy standards that allowed automakers to pollute more if they increased vehicle size.