The United States is experiencing an unprecedented pedestrian fatality crisis. Although Americans drove less during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 pedestrian fatality rate per vehicle miles traveled increased an unprecedented 21 percent from 2019. Speeding drivers taking advantage of empty streets and the increasing presence of larger, more dangerous vehicles have made it much easier for drivers to kill pedestrians. Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous Americans—as well as vulnerable populations including children, people with disabilities, and elderly Americans—were disproportionately killed at higher rates.

New evidence suggests a correlation between increasing popularity of larger vehicles—SUVs, pickup trucks, and minivans—and increasing pedestrian deaths. The share of new car sales of larger vehicles jumped from 47 percent in 2009 to 74 percent last year. Fueling that increase were SUVs, which gained significant popularity over that time period.

Without assessing the data on the dangers of larger vehicles to pedestrians, policymakers may be missing a key strategy to address the pedestrian fatality crisis. We’ve identified three ways policymakers can begin to understand the danger larger vehicles pose to pedestrians—and start saving lives.

  1. Recognize that pedestrian deaths are not inevitable, and change safety practices and regulations.
  2. Use data to understand the danger large vehicles pose to pedestrians.
  3. Incorporate pedestrian safety into SUV and light truck regulations.

Read the full article about pedestrian deaths by Peace Gwam at Urban Institute.