Pickup Truck Drivers 200% More Likely to Kill People they Hit

Pickup truck drivers are 200% more likely to kill pedestrians or cyclists they hit than drivers of average vehicles. The risk of serious injury to vulnerable road users increases by 90% where a pickup is involved.

When pickup truck drivers collide with other vehicles, the risk of serious injuries is:

• 65% less for the occupants of the pickup truck but
• 50% more for the occupants of the other vehicle

The equivalent figures for SUVs are:

• 25% lower risk of serious injury for the occupants of the SUV but
• 25% higher risk for the occupants of the other vehicle

Study by the Vias Institute

These figures come from a study by the Belgian Vias Institute.

They looked at crashes between 2017 and 2021, involving around 300,000 people. They found that 3 factors which have a very significant impact on the consequences of a crash are:

• the weight of the vehicles involved
• the power of the vehicles
• the height of the bonnets

Weight of Vehicles

Heavier vehicles decrease risks for occupants, but increase risks for others.

For example, in a crash between a vehicle weighing 1600kg and one weighing 1300kg:

• the risk of death for the occupants of the heavier vehicle is -50% but
• the risk of death for the occupants of the lighter vehicle is +80%

When the vehicle weights are 2000kg and 1000kg, the risk of serious injury to the occupants of the lighter vehicle is 300% greater than if both vehicles had been the same weight.

Similarly, increasing the weight of a vehicle by 300kg increases the risk of death for pedestrians or cyclists hit by it by 30%.

Power of Vehicles

In a collision between two vehicles where there is a difference in power of 50kW, there is:

• 65% less risk of death for the occupants of the more powerful vehicle but
• 125% greater risk of death for the occupants of the other vehicle

This is because power and mass are linked – heavier vehicles tend to be more powerful – and more powerful cars are often driven faster.

Height of the Bonnet

Increasing the height of the bonnet of a vehicle from 80cm to 90cm increases the risk of death to pedestrians and cyclists hit by it by 30%.

Evolution of Vehicles

In the 20 years from 2000 to 2021, vehicles have changed. On average they have:

• got 30% heavier
• got 60% more powerful and
• increased in bonnet height by 15%

Conclusions

The Vias Institute concludes that road safety is going in two different directions. Safety is improving for the occupants of bigger, more powerful cars, but deteriorating for everyone else.

We should prevent cars getting bigger and heavier, and aim for a more homogeneous vehicle fleet.

Those on foot and on bikes also need more protection from drivers.