Americans buy SUVs because they?re safe. But they?re more likely to kill people who aren?t in cars Pedestrian deaths keep rising in the U.S. For two years in a row, around 6,000 pedestrians have been killed each year, a figure that?s higher than it?s been since 1990. After a major federal investigation, officials think they understand why?it?s the way our cars are designed.
In 2016, after almost a decade of watching pedestrian deaths increase, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched its first investigative report dedicated to pedestrian safety. Over the next year, the agency, which often investigates major crashes that involve trains or aircraft, took a closer look at 15 vehicular crashes where pedestrians were killed.
The number was chosen because an average of 15 pedestrians were being killed every day in the U.S. in 2016. By the time the investigation was completed in 2017, that number had increased to 16 pedestrians per day. The findings, which were presented this week, highlight several potential ways for the U.S. to reduce pedestrian deaths. But what?s striking about the report is how the NTSB is focusing its recommendations on changing the way the U.S. makes and sells cars, including developing ?performance test criteria for vehicle designs that reduce injuries to pedestrians.?
This would mean the federal government will finally address the role that sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) are playing in the deaths of vulnerable street users.

For year...