Senator Richard Blumenthal (Reuters)
WASHINGTON – A US senator on Friday asked National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to address the risk of unseen children being attacked by sport utility vehicle (SUV car.)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who serves on the NHTSA oversight committee, said the increasing size of SUVs has resulted in a larger front blind area that makes it impossible for some children to see above the hood. Congress has previously required cameras to deal with rear-end material collisions, and Blumenthal says “a similar, simple solution in terms of front-visibility standards could help prevent such collisions.” this death.”
He wants NHTSA to release crash data, saying it “is crucial to understanding the true scope of frontovers and the steps that can be taken to prevent these tragic incidents.”
Some automakers provide alerts or use cameras or radar to warn drivers departing the vehicle when there are pedestrians around in front of the SUV.
SUV sales have surged in recent decades, while car sales have declined. The I have to go to school every day said that by 2020, SUVs will account for 52% of total U.S. auto production. Automakers are building larger scale truck and SUVs with higher roofs.
In 2019, 1,093 child occupants were killed in crashes, while 177 pedestrians and 48 cyclists were killed, according to NHTSA data, according to NHTSA data.
NHTSA did not immediately comment. A group representing major automakers also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In May, NHTSA said US traffic deaths rose 10.5% in 2021 to 42,915, the highest number of deaths on US roads in a year since 2005. The annual increase is also the highest since NHTSA began using its current traffic death tracking system in 1975.
