Protecting Pedestrians Through Vehicle Design (1)
Advancements Can Reduce Pedestrian Injury in Collisions

Do you know how many pedestrians were injured in motor vehicle collisions in the U.S. each year? According to the data from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 64,000 pedestrians are injured in motor vehicle collisions each year, while pedestrian accidents comprise about 11 percent of motor vehicle deaths annually. The good news is that pedestrian deaths are declining, in part because vehicle designs have changed to reduce injuries when a car and pedestrian collide.

While significant advancements in vehicle occupant safety have been made in recent years, some automakers are now also putting the focus on people outside the vehicle, in part because regulations overseas, particularly in Europe, require such designs. With an increasing number of vehicles sold globally (as opposed to only in one country or region of the world), it makes good economic sense to build vehicles to meet as many different governmental standards as possible.

In the following articles, we will explore what design improvement can protect pedestrian and reduce pedestrian injury in collisions.