It’s not only an issue when you hit people: Higher cars like SUVs, but also those sprinter vans, camping cars, trucks, pickups and so on are higher than most pedestrians. So if they are parking at the side of the road, motorists can’t see what is happening on the sidewalk. They can’t see if there is a cyclist or if someone wants to cross at the intersection. And that is one cause of all those deadly accidents while turning.
They can’t see if there is a cyclist or if someone wants to cross at the intersection. And that is one cause of all those deadly accidents while turning.
To a car on the street, even a smaller car parked where it should not be is a problem. Most cars (every type) are generally higher than a pedestrian and if not higher you see only the head of the pedestrian or nothing much more. There is a reason you cannot (by roads law) park too near to crossroad, and the rules is way older than the first SUV’s.
What it is true is that it is said that a higher front of a car is more dangerous to the pedestrian but I really don’t understand the reason: being it by a 1.5/2.0 tons car is devastating anyway. I don’t belive that being able to roll over the car (and land where and how ?) is really better and a lower car’s front could end with the pedestrian head to hit violently the car hood and/or windshield.
Most cars (every type) are generally higher than a pedestrian
Yeah and that is because cars got higher and higher. If you stand near a VW Beetle, everyone can see you.
Cargo vans (like Sprinters) are different. They have the cab at the front of the vehicle, so they don’t stick out blocking the view. I don’t mind them at all.
Another big issue with these modern huge cars is how isolated the drivers are from the outside world. It’s like being in another world, completely cut off from the rest. This means if they are even a little distracted or not looking around properly, they are going to miss stuff much more easily. And it doesn’t help these new cars usually have terrible touch screens which make you look down to do something. Plus because of the size and shape of the cars they have huge blind spots. With how safe they feel, how high the driver sits and the sound isolation, they also lose their sense of speed, which causes them to always drive way too fast for any situation. And all of the new driver aids make it easier to slack on proper driving as well. Phone distraction was already a huge issue before we got these huge cars.
I was riding my bicycle in a crowded city on Friday and the amount of huge cars is terrible. These days they are all electric or hybrid as well, which means they accelerate like crazy. We had one street with a lot of pedestrians and bicycles about and those huge cars were darting all around. Accelerating like crazy and then braking hard when the next “obstacle” aka other human beings neared. It was outright dangerous.
I’ve been riding my bicycle to work for decades now, but the amount of near death experiences per day have gone up and up the past few years. People drive like maniacs and cars seem to be designed specifically for them to do so. I feel less safe every day and wonder if it will be the end of me. But I like the fresh air and the outside, plus free exercise.
I hate cars, so even tho I have a car, I try not to ever use it unless I absolutely have to. It sits rotting in the driveway for weeks on end. And it’s only because I sometimes need it unplanned I still keep it around. Lots of times I’ve gotten a call from a friend who needed help with some job around the house. I’m handy and I have tools, so I load up my car and drive over. I like to help people, so I guess I’ll keep the car.
Yeah, that’s an issue, too. Tinted & polarized windows. Smaller windows on modern cars. Better soundproofing. There is no way to communicate with drivers.
The small windows are crazy. Always when I get a newish car from a rental it feels like the window surface is yet smaller. Waiting for a slit only, like in those WW1 tanks.
There’s these monstrous pickup trucks they sell now, they don’t even fit in my buildings parking spots, they stick out 5 feet and are super wide. I don’t understand why this isn’t regulated
I say, when the vehicle starts, the surrounding cameras should automatically start up and show the driver what’s closest to the vehicle. Just like how they start automatically when engaging the reversing gear. That way it’s a quick look to see if there are any small obstacles.