America has been getting more and more dangerous for pedestrians over the past few years. It’s a trend with several contributing factors—our built environment prioritizes passenger vehicle traffic and encourages speeding, and traffic enforcement is virtually absent in many cities. But it’s undeniable that vehicle design—particularly of large pickup trucks and SUVs—has been causing excess casualties. For example, a study published in January found that an increase in hood height of four inches (100 mm) translated to a 28 percent increase in pedestrian deaths.
With that stats why have they even waited so long?
And of course they’re not going to do the one thing which would really help: regulate maximum hood height on new vehicles.
I want my car to not be totaled when some idiot hits it.
The reason your car crumples so much when some idiot hits it is to protect you. The more energy that goes into deforming parts of your car, the less that goes into accelerating your meatbag, preventing injury.
I’m aware of the physics. I just don’t care. I’d still rather have an old solid chassis land yacht for several reasons. For one they will survive a wreck. They’re cheaper and easier to work on. And they’re user serviceable.
I don’t have new car money. As that would mean full coverage money. Which I also don’t have. Even liability is ridiculously overpriced now.