The NHTSA’s new safety proposal targets massive trucks and SUVs

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing a new rule which focuses on reducing the impact that increasingly larger vehicles have on pedestrian safety. In particular, those related to head injuries.

Named the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS), it’ll target all new vehicles that weigh up to 4,540kg - focusing on the bigger stuff, like pick-ups, SUVs and vans - to be designed in a way that prevents serious injury.

In fact, research has shown larger multipurpose vehicles have a 12 per cent higher fatality rate than average-sized passenger cars, and should the rule be implemented, the NHTSA believes it could prevent up to 67 fatalities per year.

Sophie Shulman, the deputy administrator of the NHTSA, said: “We have a crisis of roadway deaths, and it’s even worse among vulnerable road users like pedestrians. Between 2013 and 2022, pedestrian fatalities increased by 57 per cent from 4,779 to 7,522.

“This proposed rule will ensure that vehicles will be designed to protect those inside and outside from serious injury or death. We will continue to work to make our roads safer for everyone and help protect vulnerable road users.”

As for the actual test itself, all new vehicles will be required to face various head-to-bonnet collisions with ‘human-like’ head foams, which vary from adult to child size to improve safety accuracy. You'll be able to publicly comment on the NHTSA's proposal - that could literally change the face of American car design - for a few months.