Numerous pickup trucks require modifications to lessen pedestrian fatalities under proposed legislation.
The Road Safety Authority is proposing a fresh regulation on Tuesdays, which involves establishing testing and performance criteria to decrease the likelihood of severe head injuries to pedestrians.
The primary focus of this regulation is tow trucks and sports utility vehicles (SUVs), as these vehicles have grown in size and hood height over the decades, potentially creating blind spots for drivers.
According to the Road Safety Authority, pedestrian deaths spiked by 57% from 2013 to 2022, climbing from 4,779 to 7,522. The authority asserts that this rule could prevent 67 annual fatalities.
Statistics indicate that pedestrian fatalities are most prevalent when struck by a vehicle's front end, particularly for SUVs and trucks.
Under the proposed law, enacted by Congress in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, manufacturers will be obligated to follow specific test procedures replicating head-to-hood impact and reduced head injury risk. The tests will employ life-like head dummies mimicking both children and adults, as stated by the Road Safety Authority.
"We are grappling with a roadway fatality epidemic, and it's particularly grave for vulnerable road users, like pedestrians," said Sophie Shulman, NHTSA's Deputy Administrator, in a statement. "This proposed rule aims to ensure that vehicles are engineered to safeguard both occupants and pedestrians from substantial injury or death."
On Monday, attempts were made to solicit comments from automakers and the industry's primary lobbying group.
The proposed regulation aims to improve business practices in the automotive industry, focusing on reducing pedestrian fatalities. This is especially crucial for tow trucks and SUVs, as their size and hood height may increase the risk of severe head injuries.
Compliance with the new regulations could potentially improve a business's reputation for prioritizing road safety, aligning with the societal objective of reducing pedestrian deaths.
