The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing a new rule to improve pedestrian safety in collisions with vehicles, focusing particularly on trucks and SUVs sold in the country.
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The goal is to reduce pedestrian fatalities, which have increased by 33% over the past 20 years, despite a decrease in deaths inside vehicles. The proposed rule includes new collision standards to mitigate head injuries for pedestrians, addressing aspects such as hood design and the possibility of considering grilles and bumpers on larger vehicles.
The document, over 230 pages long, details guidelines for the structure of vehicle hoods and fenders, aiming to reduce the impact on pedestrians’ heads. The rule proposes tests with heads of different sizes to assess how vehicles can better protect pedestrians in frontal collisions.
The NHTSA emphasizes that improving these structures is essential for increasing survival rates in accidents. In recent years, trucks and SUVs have been criticized for their large front bumpers, which increase the risk of injury to pedestrians and reduce visibility for drivers.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has also identified risks in mid-sized vehicles with flat and protruding fronts. The proposed rule is in a 60-day public review phase and aims to create safer vehicles for everyone.
Source: Motor1.com | Photos: Unsplash | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team
