St Pete Pedestrians Watch Out For Pickup Trucks When Crossing The Street
Michael Babboni
Personal Injury
A New Study By IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) has revealed that pickup trucks and SUVs are twice as likely to strike pedestrian.Pickup trucks and SUVs have become the vehicle of choice for the majority of Americans today including those of us who live in St Petersburg and areas around Pinellas County. The higher vehicles offer drivers a commanding view, utility for hauling and towing, and make some drivers feel safer by being in a larger heavier vehicle.
However, as great as pickups and SUVs are for their owners, they are much less so for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety puts a spotlight on deadly facts - that pickup trucks and SUVs are twice as likely to hit pedestrians.(1)
Why Pickups And SUVs Are More Dangerous For Pedestrians Than Cars
Safer for vehicles - more dangerous for pedestrians
Since 2010, some things have become safer, as vehicle safety features have greatly improved over the decade, substantially fewer Americans have been killed in vehicle accidents overall.
However, with that improvement for drivers and passengers, things have gotten worse for pedestrians. The number of pedestrians hit by vehicles has been increasing steadily every year. Infact the number of pedestrians that have died from vehicle strikes as increased 59 percent since 2010 and exceeded 6,500 people in 2020, the latest year for which data are available.
The data was clear about the increased death, but the IIHS was looking further into finding out what the causes could be. Researchers had already confirmed what most would take for common sense - that SUVs and pickup trucks are more deadly for pedestrians, but they continued along those lines to study what vehicle types were also more LIKELY to be involved in pedestrian crashes.
A deadly turn of events for pedestrians
The researchers uncovered that the chances of a pedestrian being killed by a vehicle that was turning left were 4 times higher for a pickup truck than a sedan, and twice as high for SUVs. Worse, the chances of a pedestrian being fatally hit by a vehicle turning right was 89% higher for pickup trucks, and 63% higher for SUVs than for sedans.
The data is clear - pedestrians being fatally struck by an SUV or Pickup is a much more likely occurrence than by a sedan, the question is why that would be so.
Engineers involved with the IIHS have speculated that the large pillars (A-Pillars) that support the roof of these vehicles makes it harder for drivers to spot pedestrians, making it easier for a pedestrian or bicyclist to end up in a pickup truck's blind spot when near the roadway.
Not Just Turns
Unfortunately, the grim statistics are not much better for pedestrians walking along the street and not involved in turning accidents. Even when walking along a road, pickup trucks and SUVs were shown to be up to 51% increased chance of killing a pedestrian.
Pickup Trucks and Pedestrian Fatalities
The statistics speak for themselves and showcase just how pickup trucks have increased in the number of pedestrian deaths in the U.S. The numbers are staggering.
In one year alone over one thousand pedestrians were killed by pickup trucks according to statistical data. The way a pickup truck is engineered increases its chances of causing an accident and adds to the statistics that are shown. The current trend is that each year the number of deaths has been increasing.
Current statistics highlight the increased risk that pickup trucks pose to pedestrians and the increased need for drivers to exercise caution and awareness when operating these vehicles in areas where there are more pedestrians. Further research supports the finding that more and more people are involved in pedestrian accidents with trucks due to the way the trucks are manufactured.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), pickup trucks were involved in 16% of pedestrian fatalities in 2019. This shows a definite increase from the 11% of pedestrian fatalities involving pickup trucks in 2009.
In 2019, there were 6,205 pedestrian fatalities in the United States, with 1,011 involving pickup trucks. This means on average, more than two pedestrians were killed by pickup trucks every day in the U. S. This is a staggering amount of deaths.
Furthermore, our law firm at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh has found a study that was published by the Journal of Safety Research found that pickup trucks are more likely to be involved in pedestrian fatalities than any other vehicle type. The study utilized data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and found that pedestrian fatalities involving pickup trucks were more likely to occur in rural areas, at non-intersection locations, and at night.
Keeping Safe When Walking In Town In St Pete
Whether the increased risk for pedestrians from pickup trucks and SUVs is caused by larger A-pillars, or it ends up being something else, the end result is the same for the pedestrian.
Being outside of a vehicle offers no protection from a collision, so we urge St Peter residents to stay alert when walking in our busy downtown, especially at intersections!
Our city has a lot to offers for people exploring on foot, but as St Pete has grown over the years so has our traffic volume, and many of those extra vehicles are pickup trucks and SUVs.
Getting Justice After A Crash
If you or someone you know, has been injured in an accident involving a pickup truck or any other kind of vehicle while walking in St Pete or anywhere on Florida's Gulf Coast, it is important that you contact an St Petersburg auto accident attorney with local experience.
The St Pete Lawyer Michael Babboni from the law office of Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh is here to protect your rights, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact Michael Babboni Today at 727-381-9200 for your 100% Free Case Review.
Reference:
(1) The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS): SUVs, other large vehicles often hit pedestrians while turning
(2) The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS): SUVs are more lethal to pedestrians than cars