In just a few decades, the types of vehicles most commonly seen on U.S. roads have completely changed. The sedan that once ruled the highways has been overshadowed by the rise of SUVs, pickup trucks and vans, collectively known as "light trucks." Today, these vehicles not only make up about 75% of new vehicle sales, but their average weight and footprint are also at record highs. This shift to bigger, heavier passenger vehicles has profound impact on road safety: The proportion of traffic deaths of people outside vehicles has risen steadily, with 2022 being the deadliest year for pedestrians in the United States since 1981.

These fatality trends can’t be explained simply by a growing population or the changing market share of different vehicle types. Road to Zero has identified key features of light trucks that make them hazardous to road users around them: Their height and weight relative to pedestrians, crash incompatibility with smaller cars, unique front-end geometry and stiffness, large blind zones and the compounding impacts of speed and acceleration.

Read the full report, or focus on specific topics most important to you. Whatever your interest, we hope you will take the time to read the recommendations put together by Road to Zero’s team of expert contributors, who set forth a wide variety of approaches to tackling this aspect of the national roadway safety crisis.