Older People More Vulnerable

Pedestrians already are at higher risk than auto drivers and passengers, the authors point out, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. People over 60 are more than four times as likely to die if hit by a car.

The likelihood of a pedestrian fatality nearly doubled in the event of a collision with a large SUV compared with a passenger car, a recent US study found. Both vehicles were traveling the same speed at impact.

Other studies report up to four times higher rates of severe injury and death.

More Severe Primary Impact

The increased risk from SUVs arises primarily from the geometry of the front end structure, the authors explain.

Pedestrian injuries from cars are mainly leg fractures and knee injuries from the primary impact with the bumper, and head injuries from the secondary impact with the hood or dashboard.

SUV hoods are higher than those of cars, which results in more severe primary impact on the critical central body regions of the upper leg and pelvis, as well as a doubling of injuries to such vulnerable regions as the head, thorax and abdomen.

Significantly Greater Hazard

The evidence clearly shows that SUVs represent a significantly greater hazard to pedestrians than ordinary cars, say the authors. As sales of SUVs rise and the population ages, the threat could worsen.

The authors recommend changing crash investigation processes to identify SUVs in vehicle-pedestrian impact statistics, and displaying warning notices on SUVs to help inform consumers of the increased risks.

Addressing the hazards posed by SUVs to pedestrians is an emerging and real traffic safety challenge in the developed world, they conclude.