SUVival of the biggest: Pedestrians less likely to survive hits from large cars

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-05-08 14:18

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Pedestrians and cyclists are about 44% more likely to be killed when hit by an SUV or light truck (e.g. a van or big ute) compared to a passenger car, concludes a new systematic review of 24 studies. That number nearly doubles for children, too - they're 82% more likely to die when being hit by the bigger cars. The researchers say the increasing popularity of SUVs in many countries (including NZ and Australia) is concerning given the danger they pose to vulnerable road users. They say their findings lend support to policies that discourage the use of large vehicles, such as higher parking charges.