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The all-new Hyundai Santa Fe. Photo: Hyundai. |
According to Motor1, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the US (NHTSA) is proposing several changes to automotive design to reduce the number of pedestrian fatalities. These regulations are likely to significantly impact the design of pickup trucks and SUVs in the American market.
NHTSA reports a 33% increase in pedestrian fatalities over the last two decades, prompting the proposed design changes to minimize head injuries in frontal collisions.
Motor1 emphasizes that while NHTSA doesn’t specify any particular models, the proposal effectively targets the entire large pickup and SUV segment in the US.
The focus is on hood design, alongside the frontal styling of these large vehicles.
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The Tesla Cybertruck features a boxy, angular design. Illustration: Sothebys. |
NHTSA’s regulations will require vehicles to meet certain criteria in tests involving impacts with the sides of pedestrians, as most collisions occur when pedestrians are in front of the vehicle.
Two dummies of different head sizes, one approximating a 6-year-old child and the other an adult, will be used in the testing process.
The 238-page NHTSA document outlines guidelines and recommendations for hood, fender, and other structural designs related to how pedestrians may be struck by vehicles. Most importantly, these changes are intended to minimize impact forces on the pedestrian’s head to increase their chances of survival.
“Between 2013 and 2022, pedestrian fatalities increased from 4,779 to 7,522,” said Sophie Shulman of NHTSA, emphasizing that the proposals will protect both vehicle occupants and pedestrians from severe injuries or death.
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The US proposes design changes for pickup trucks and SUVs. Illustration: Toyota. |
According to Motor1, pickup trucks and SUVs have been under scrutiny in recent years due to their increasingly large frontal dimensions. This not only increases the risk of severe injuries to pedestrians but also impairs the driver’s visibility.
Last year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) concluded that vehicles with excessively tall fronts pose a significant risk to pedestrians. This risk is not limited to large pickup trucks, as mid-size cars with high noses and vertical grilles were also found to have similar issues.
Motor1 notes that this design trend is prevalent in today’s automotive industry.
The regulations proposed by NHTSA are currently under review before finalization, and the public is invited to provide feedback on the potential changes to pickup trucks and SUVs.
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