The Risks of Pickup Truck Design

A recent investigation highlights the dangers associated with large pickup trucks compared to smaller vehicles. The hood of a full-size 2017 Toyota Tundra starts approximately 50 inches off the ground, whereas a 2014 Ford C-Max measures 31 inches. This difference in hood height correlates to a significant increase in pedestrian fatalities.

In the early 2000s, most passenger vehicles on American roads were traditional cars, such as sedans and coupes. Companies like Ford sold millions of these vehicles annually. Today, however, sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks with tall hoods, like the Ford F-250 and Chevrolet Silverado 2500, dominate the market. Since 2002, the number of these larger vehicles has grown fivefold.

Two main factors contribute to their danger: the height of the hoods and the size of their blind spots. An investigation by The Times, conducted by reporters Michael H. Keller, Eli Murray, Danielle Ivory, and Irineo Cabreros, worked with crash-reconstruction experts to simulate what happens at 20 miles per hour when a vehicle hits a pedestrian.

The first simulation involved a standard sedan impacting a figure representing an average American man, 5-foot-9 in height. It hit below his center of gravity, potentially allowing for survival despite the impact.

Conversely, the simulation of a modern pickup truck showed it hitting the figure in the chest, pushing him to the ground, and running over him. “We see a lot of devastating collisions even at lower speeds because the pedestrian gets punted forward,” said an expert involved in the tests. Before drivers realize the situation, pedestrian fatalities can occur.