Fatal bicycle crash rates have risen dramatically over the past decade. The increasing numbers of SUVs in the U.S. fleet, and their taller front ends, could help explain why.

Ground-impact injuries — a frequent cause of head injuries — were more than twice as common in SUV crashes than those involving cars, the study showed. The findings follow earlier IIHS research that showed SUVs are more lethal than cars to pedestrians despite design changes that have made them less dangerous to other vehicles. That study also traced the increased risk to the height of SUVs’ front ends.

Fatal bicycle crash rates have risen dramatically over the past decade. In 2020, 932 bicyclists were killed on U.S. roads, up from a low of 621 in 2010. One reason may be the dominance of pickups and SUVs in the U.S. vehicle fleet. Research consistently shows that such larger vehicles are more dangerous to bicyclists than cars.

  • @CADmonkey
    4•7 months ago

    Outside of the US the kinds of people that drive these stupidly large vehicles are generally speaking entitled pricks or men who need it as an extension of their ‘manliness’ or a combo of both.

    That’s weird, it’s often true inside the US as well. Generally its an oversized truck/SUV that has had some sort of mods or acceessories put on it (Lift, lights, wheels that stick out, artificial plastic testicles, etc) that are driven by the problem people. A plain, basic F150 or whatever is probably a company truck.