Autobesity is a term that has gained a lot of traction recently. It refers to the growth in car sizes that anyone living in the US for long enough cannot fail to have noticed.
It is not just an American problem Plenty of other countries have also seen their cars get bigger, but it’s here where the issue is probably most prominent
A report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute found that “Over the past 30 years, the average U.S. passenger vehicle has gotten about 4 inches wider, 10 inches longer, 8 inches taller and 1,000 pounds heavier.”
More dangerous to others
Bigger cars are more dangerous to other road users, especially to those who are not encased in a protective metal shell, such as pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists. The report highlights, “Pedestrian crash deaths have risen 80 percent since hitting their low in 2009.” This is in spite of the spread of crash avoidance technology in modern vehicles.
Part of it is due to the increased weight, as something heavier will hit harder than something lighter when traveling at the same speed. The increased width also leaves less room on the road for someone to swerve to avoid a collision, as well as bringing vehicles closer together when they pass.
The increased height is of particular concern at the front end. Combined with the trend toward flatter front ends, it makes it more likely that people are hit in the head or in their vital organs – making death more likely than if they were hit in the legs and thrown onto the hood of the vehicle.
That higher front end also creates an extended blind spot in front, which, combined with the extended blind spots caused by the thicker roof pillars these vehicles come with, makes it harder for a driver to notice other road users.
Learning how to seek compensation after a crash becomes even more important due to the increased harm these larger vehicles often cause in a crash. Having experienced legal guidance can help.
