Larger Cars Projected to Kill 400 More Pedestrians, Cyclists, Motorcyclists in Europe by 2039
An estimated 400 additional pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists will die on European roads in the next 15 years due to larger car sizes. Research by the Transport & Environment think tank, based on Eurostat and UK data, indicates SUVs pose a significant danger and reduce road space. The Irish Times explored this issue.
An additional 400 pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists are projected to die on European roads within the next 15 years due to the increasing average size of cars. This figure is derived from projections utilizing data from Eurostat and the UK Department for Transport.
Research conducted by the Transport & Environment (T&E) think tank suggests that these road fatality figures could be substantially higher. The organization notes that after 25 years of continuous growth, European roads are now predominantly occupied by large SUVs, which present a significant physical danger to other road users.
Furthermore, larger vehicles, including SUVs and pickup trucks, contribute to reduced space on roads and in car parks. These vehicles often exceed the dimensions of parking spaces originally designed for smaller cars from a previous era.
Neil Briscoe, motoring contributor for The Irish Times, reports on why SUVs are particularly hazardous to other road users and why drivers continue to choose them despite awareness of the dangers their large vehicles pose. The report was presented by Bernice Harrison and produced by John Casey.