Story perspectives

Study: Extra Hood Inches Linked to 3,000 Pedestrian Deaths

6/23/2026

Summary

Study Links Hood

The Times study found each extra inch of hood height raised pedestrian-fatality odds by about 2.8 %.
The model estimates roughly 3,000 pedestrian deaths from 2016-2024, excluding non-federal crashes.
Simulations indicate that lowering hoods by three inches could have saved 2,624–3,077 lives.
3-D scans showed Silverado blind-spot area nearly doubled while GMC and Toyota rose ~60 % and the F-150 about 25 %.

Summary

SUVs Fuel Fatalities

The report links the U.S. increase in pedestrian deaths to the growing share of SUVs and pickups, not to smartphone distraction.
Over the past decade, U.S. consumers have shifted from sedans to larger SUVs and trucks, a change that coincides with rising pedestrian fatalities.
Analysts say vehicle-dimension records and federal crash data show larger front-ends, not distraction, explain the U.S. divergence from other affluent nations with similar smartphone use.

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Study Links Hood

The Times study found each extra inch of hood height raised pedestrian-fatality odds by about 2.8 %.
The model estimates roughly 3,000 pedestrian deaths from 2016-2024, excluding non-federal crashes.
Simulations indicate that lowering hoods by three inches could have saved 2,624–3,077 lives.
3-D scans showed Silverado blind-spot area nearly doubled while GMC and Toyota rose ~60 % and the F-150 about 25 %.

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