The overland craze is out of control

[Harvey]

New Projection: U.S. Pedestrian Deaths Rise Yet Again in First Half of 2022 | GHSA

Drivers in the United States struck and killed 3,434 people in the first half of 2022 – up 5%, or 168 more deaths, from the same period the year before, according to a new analysis from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).

www.ghsa.org

From this article, it is really focusing on the years since the beginning of the pandemic:

"Why are more people walking dying on U.S. roads? A combination of factors, including a surge in dangerous driving that began at the start of the pandemic and has not lessened; larger, heavier vehicles that are more likely to seriously injure or kill people on foot in the event of a crash; roads designed to prioritize fast-moving traffic over slower speeds that are safer for pedestrians; and inadequate infrastructure such as sidewalks, crosswalks and lighting in many parts of the country."

I still wonder about weight and pedestrians. I don't have any data (doh!) but wonder how many people who died getting hit by are car would have lived if the car was lighter. Car on car I get it. But car on pedestrian makes no sense. You weigh 200 and the car weighs 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000. If I gain 50 pounds do I have a better chance of surviving getting hit?

Has stopping distance increased? That might makes sense if it did.

 

[Campgottagopee]

I literally just watched a Chevy Tahoe swerve way too fast in downtown Maplewood

Are you sure it wasn't the driver of the Tahoe?

 

[Campgottagopee]

Like, we have finally gotten to the point where (most of) these guys have finally accepted that littering & dumping used oil down the sewer is bad

Used oil is best for starting campfires.

 

[Campgottagopee]

And yeah, that’s what I’m saying. There is a pervasive attitude of “I’m gonna do this shit & you can’t stop me. Get the fuck out of my way”

Glad we understand each other.

 

[Tjf1967]

Glad we understand each other.

I laughed

 

[Tjf1967]

New Projection: U.S. Pedestrian Deaths Rise Yet Again in First Half of 2022 | GHSA

Drivers in the United States struck and killed 3,434 people in the first half of 2022 – up 5%, or 168 more deaths, from the same period the year before, according to a new analysis from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).

www.ghsa.org

Easy information to find, with plenty of articles and studies showing how bigger, heavier vehicles with horrible sight-lines are killing us.

I literally just watched a Chevy Tahoe swerve way too fast in downtown Maplewood to park in front of the Palmers Bakery, hit the curve, pop up, and then scrape the bumper on the way down. Two women in "athleisure" got out and went to the Pilates studio. Did you really need a Chevy Tahoe for that?

Didn't you say you were going to get a big vehicle for a four person family? Do as I say not as I do? You can only control you. Lead by example.
Were the ladies hot?

 

[riverc0il]

That chart to some extent reflects the popularity of SUVs more than anything. Should probably be done by weight.

"Average" car weighs ~4400 pounds, a Honda HRV weighs 3300, but would be considered large in that graph. Both the Honda CRV and RAV4 (top selling SUVs) are less than 4400.

The number of pedestrian fatalities should be a percentage not a number. How do the number of cars on the road and the population today compare to 2008?

Also what happened in 2012?

Not saying there isn't something there, but the way the stats are presented seems off.

Using that chart to support the conclusion is even more problematic than that. The chart just plots two things against time. Almost anything could be substituted for the large vehicle number and the chart would still be accurate.

Theoretically (I doubt this is true but it could be), small cars might cause more pedestrian deaths than large cars, but that chart could still be valid and true, just because more people are buying bigger vehicles over time as well.

2008 is an interesting year to start that chart... that was the first full year for sales of smartphones. That was also before most cars came with touchscreen infotainment systems, which often contain essential functions like HVAC and audio. I wonder what that chart would look like extended out pre-2008?

The point that TheGreatAbyss was making is that it is an arms race. The danger is not necessarily large vehicles themselves, but that small cars get lost in a sea of big vehicles, so even folks that don't want them need to buy them to feel safe.

I feel that. I drive a Civic, I'm about as low as a small car can get. It is getting harder to see around other vehicles when pulling out into oncoming traffic.

One thing that would help is more ubiquitous safety systems. It would be nice to see safety systems not command premium spec/option pricing on new cars. Currently, only the top trims get all the safety features. Some of that tech is trickling down, but base car prices are going up, which means more people can't afford new cars and buy used cars that don't have the tech. Having auto braking for pedestrians and cyclists required for new vehicle sales would probably help offset the sightline issue with the bigger vehicles.

 

[riverc0il]

Might also be interesting to see studies comparing other countries with large SUVs/trucks taking over the roads, that also have better infrastructure. Part of the problem with pedestrian/vehicle incidents is our infrastructure was primarily built for vehicles without considering foot traffic. As city populations increase, there are both more drivers and more pedestrians using the same driver-focused infrastructure. That could be a cause of the increase, as well.

 

[Harvey]

Using that chart to support the conclusion is even more problematic than that. The chart just plots two things against time. Almost anything could be substituted for the large vehicle number and the chart would still be accurate.

Number of female pedestrians wearing yoga pants?

 

[MC2]

…..

Bigger trucks are more likely to kill pedestrians than smaller cars (over & above the weight & sightline issue):

From: https://smartgrowthamerica.org/bigg...y-resulting-in-more-deaths-of-people-walking/

See also:

https://www.kbb.com/car-news/safety-study-suvs-pickups-more-likely-to-hit-kill-pedestrians-when-turning/

Agree that they should have more pedestrian-/bike-only streets in big cities that are increasing in population.