Europe Versus Large American SUVs And Pickups

According to a Belgian study, large SUVs and pickups increase the risk of pedestrian death by 44% compared to conventional cars, while for small children the figure rises to 130%.

The reason for this is probably the fact that an investigation by NBC News revealed that in some situations, the driver of a pickup truck will not see up to nine children in the front blind spot of the vehicle.

Since 2010, the European Union has reduced the number of deaths on its roads by 36%, which shows the effectiveness of its traffic safety policies. During the same period, the United States saw a 30% increase in total road deaths. More alarmingly, the number of pedestrian deaths has exploded by 80% across the Atlantic, which is in direct correlation with the growing popularity of oversized SUVs and pickups.

The difference lies in the philosophy of safety testing. The European Euro NCAP tests evaluate not only the protection of vehicle occupants but also the protection of pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable users through passive safety criteria. American tests, on the other hand, focus almost exclusively on the safety of passengers inside the vehicle. This approach explains why American vehicles are fortresses for drivers but also dangerous for everyone else.

The proposed trade agreement between the EU and the United States contains a dangerous clause on the “mutual recognition” of standards. In particular, it would allow American vehicles to travel on European roads without meeting EU safety requirements. This commercial deviation would turn European streets into testing grounds for vehicles that were never designed to protect pedestrians and cyclists. The American auto industry could thus bypass decades of progress in European road safety.

Currently, there is a growing movement throughout the continent to combat this threat. A joint letter vehemently opposing the agreement was signed by up to 75 European organizations, including the city of Amsterdam. These public health, road safety, and sustainable urban planning stakeholders are aware that easing regulations is an unacceptable compromise. Their message is very clear: in business negotiations, European citizens’ lives should not be used as leverage. A risky escalation would result from accepting American automobiles without modifying them to meet European standards.

In order to compete with American imports, European manufacturers might be tempted to lower their standards. Roads in Europe would become battlefields as a result of this race to the bottom, protecting only the occupants of the biggest cars. According to MSN.com, commercial liberalization that puts short-term profits ahead of human lives would result in the collateral deaths of millions of children, cyclists, and pedestrians.

• Also See: Cars Sold In Europe May Soon Ban Flush Door Handles