Another factor is increased number of trucks and SUVs. Pedestrians are struck higher in their body and are less likely to slide off the hood, but are instead underneath the vehicle.
Consumers who choose these kinds of vehicles for no other reason than aesthetics are also a big part of the problem. In my view, a responsible vendor would steer buyers away from an inefficient use of materials & fuel unless particular use cases were presented.
The fact that the scenario I just described seems ludicrous to us is a pretty solid example of the abandonment of long-term thinking in our current marketplace, I think. I'm hoping to live to see the day when the right company figures out how to flip this around and win a huge pile of lifelong customer-fans in the process.
And more Americans than ever are zipping around in SUVs and pickup trucks, which, thanks to their height, weight and shape are between two and three times more likely to kill people they hit. SUVs are also the most profitable cars on the market, for the simple reason buyers are willing to pay more for them. As with speeding, there appears to be a self-perpetuating cycle at work: the increased presence of large cars on the road makes them feel more dangerous, which makes owning a large car yourself feel more comforting.
I think it's a vicious circle. People want to feel safe on the road, so they buy a SUV or a truck because it's less likely to get smashed and squashed in a car crash.
This is probably also why "sport futility vehicles" like the BMW X6 or the Mercedes GLW Coupe have appeared: they are cramped inside and their off road performance is utter crap (too heavy, built for the road).
