Bigger not always better, road safety experts say on SUVs, pickup trucks

Road safety experts have called for mandatory size limits and stricter regulations for large trucks and SUVs amid concerns over the effects of heavier vehicles in crashes involving pedestrians, cyclists, or smaller vehicles.

Road safety and sustainable transport activist Shahrim Tamrin said SUVs tend to have larger blind spots than regular motor cars, making them a danger to others on the road.

"In Malaysia, SUVs increase the likelihood of death for pedestrians due to the higher impact points – the bumper and grilles – that are more likely to throw them forward upon impact, resulting in either instant death or them being dragged under the car," he told MalaysiaNow.

Shahrim, a former board member of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), also urged the transport ministry to impose a requirement for SUVs and pickup trucks to be equipped with features that facilitate the detection of pedestrians, including an automatic emergency braking system and cameras.  

According to automotive website Paultan.org, SUV sales formed 30% or 213,128 units of the 719,160 vehicles sold in 2023.

However, there has been concern over the size of such vehicles, with one report claiming an 11% increase in height and 24% uptick in weight between 2000 and 2018, driven by demand for more space and power.

Studies have suggested that children are eight times more likely to die when struck by an SUV than a normal passenger car.

In 2021, a five-year-old in Butterworth, Penang, died after being hit by an SUV while riding his bicycle.

In 2023, meanwhile, a three-year-old child on a kick scooter died after being hit by a similar sized vehicle.

Miros chief Siti Zaharah Ishak said that road accidents involving SUVs, MPVs, and pickup trucks in Malaysia are linked to safety concerns such as rollover risks and crash compatibility with smaller vehicles.

"Compared to sedans, SUVs and pickup trucks have a higher likelihood of overturning in an accident. This poses serious safety risks, especially in high-speed collisions," she said.

Heavier vehicles also exert greater force in a crash, increasing the severity of injuries for the occupants of smaller cars.

"Miros' research indicates that when large and small vehicles collide, the occupants of the smaller vehicle often suffer more severe injuries. This finding is consistent with international studies," Siti Zaharah said.

Larger vehicles, particularly SUVs and pickups, also tend to cause more serious injuries to pedestrians and cyclists, she said.

"Their higher bonnet and front-end design mean that impact often occurs at the chest or head level rather than the lower body, as is more common with sedans."

Road safety expert Law Teik Hua said restricting vehicle designs was one of the best ways to reduce the risks associated with large vehicles.

"Malaysia could limit new car hood heights, like other countries," Law, the head of Universiti Putra Malaysia's Road Safety Research Centre, told MalaysiaNow.

"Limiting vehicle front-end height to 1.25m could drastically minimise pedestrian injuries in collisions.  

"Currently, the limit of the front-end height is not explicitly stated."

Law said the government could also consider requiring new automobiles to have pedestrian safety features by offering incentives to manufacturers and consumers.  

"Malaysia could also set minimum performance criteria for these technologies to assure real-world efficacy," he said.

Law also proposed designs that reduce urban speeding by incoming vehicles, including speed bumps, higher crosswalks, and narrower lanes to slow cars and protect cyclists in high-traffic areas where collisions are more likely.  

Siti Zaharah agreed, emphasising the importance of road safety measures, including vehicle design improvements and stricter safety regulations.

Shahrim meanwhile said that the government could discourage SUV ownership by introducing higher sales and carbon taxes in addition to the compulsory first-world vehicle safety specifications that include a top-notch pedestrian detection system.