Harder to pin them on SUV’s and pickups …they don’t show what that increase is or what percentage of fatalities are from those types of vehicles.For example:
“The number of pedestrian fatalities fell from 5952 to 4,628 fatalities between 2010 and 2019. This is a relative decrease of 22%, which is almost equal to the decrease in all road fatalities together in the same period (- 23%). As a result, the proportion of pedestrians has remained almost constant in recent years: 1 in 5 road fatalities in the EU are pedestrians.”
More data by country here.
Considering the large increase is only happening in the US, it’s hard to pinpoint phones as the main cause here.
Studies have shown larger SUVs and trucks are more likely to hit pedestrians and the percentage of those vehicles has increased significantly over the last 10 years, and they are not nearly as prevalent in Europe.
SUVs, pickup trucks more likely to hit pedestrians than cars, study finds
As U.S. pedestrian deaths continue rising, Insurance Institute research finds that higher-profile SUVs and pickups appear to be a factor.www.usatoday.com
www.nbcnews.com
Not conclusive but does propose the potential for cell phones contributing to the rate.
Pedestrian deaths are soaring: SUVs, drug use, cellphones may be why, study says
Warming weather could be one reason why pedestrian fatalities are at the highest rate in 30 years, a report says. More people might be out at night when such deaths are most frequent.
I have spent a decent amount of time in European countries over the past four years and this is just my perception based on observations and discussions. Laws are stricter, it’s not as acceptable there as it is here, and roads are less forgiving in general. On the other hand, how often do you pass someone here on a highway and see them texting or reading off their phone.
