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Oversized SUVs and trucks are a growing menace to people outside of them-- including pedestrians, cyclists, and occupants of smaller cars.
A Biden admin can begin fixing this (even w/o the Senate).
Here's how.
A Biden admin can begin fixing this (even w/o the Senate).
Here's how.
Some context: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates the design of new autos through its influential New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)-- aka, "the one with the crash test dummies."
Automakers are eager to score valuable
NCAP ratings.
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Automakers are eager to score valuable
NCAP ratings.2/
NCAP only looks at risk to a vehicle's occupants. Pedestrians, cyclists, and those in other cars don't count.
That gives automakers little incentive to protect vulnerable street users. Instead, they're in an arms race to design the biggest, tallest SUVs and trucks.
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That gives automakers little incentive to protect vulnerable street users. Instead, they're in an arms race to design the biggest, tallest SUVs and trucks.
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The predictable result: pedestrians and cyclist deaths are skyrocketing in the USA.
No other country shows a similar trendline. Chart from OECD: https://www.itf-oecd.org/road-safety-annual-report-2020
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No other country shows a similar trendline. Chart from OECD: https://www.itf-oecd.org/road-safety-annual-report-2020
4/
It's a different story in Europe, which has its own NCAP. To get top ratings there vehicles must pass safety tests focused on pedestrians and cyclists.
Now ~80% of new European automobiles have cyclist detection software as a standard feature. In the USA almost none do.
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Now ~80% of new European automobiles have cyclist detection software as a standard feature. In the USA almost none do.
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NHTSA claims to be reviewing NCAP to fix its shortcomings, but the Trump admin has dragged its feet, drawing a rebuke from the GAO.
6/ https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-20-419
6/ https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-20-419
In a Biden admin, NHTSA can finally fix NCAP.
Better yet, no Congressional approval is necessary-- just an announcement.
It would be years before NCAP changes go into effect, but automakers would start adjusting designs right away. They want those 5 stars!
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Better yet, no Congressional approval is necessary-- just an announcement.
It would be years before NCAP changes go into effect, but automakers would start adjusting designs right away. They want those 5 stars!
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So if you're worried what the Tesla Cybertruck will do on city streets, and if you want to halt the neverending growth of SUV and truck size, now is the time to demand overdue fixes to NCAP.
8/ https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/tesla-cybertruck-design-safety/
8/ https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/tesla-cybertruck-design-safety/
Of course, city leaders don't need to wait for the feds to limit the use of dangerous SUVs and trucks. In @Citylab I offered a few policy options (below).
But with NCAP, the Biden admin will have a powerful federal tool. It's time to use it!
9/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-17/how-cities-could-push-back-on-pickups-and-suvs
But with NCAP, the Biden admin will have a powerful federal tool. It's time to use it!
9/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-17/how-cities-could-push-back-on-pickups-and-suvs
