[ameminator]

NTSB may want to consider regulating the size of new trucks and SUVs, which are disproportionately causing deaths and damage, instead of inventing new problems for themselves.

[skyyler]

https://www.resources.org/common-resources/how-much-do-regul...

Interestingly, the large trucks and SUVs seem to be partially the result of fuel efficiency regulations.

[kyrra]

EPA is trying to close that loophole: https://www.wired.com/story/the-us-wants-to-close-the-suv-lo...

Washington Post predicted this 12 years ago: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/cafe-lo...

[missingcolours]

I also wonder if the increase in Americans' weight over the years has played a role. Big trucks and SUVs are often more comfortable for larger people.

[cdolan]

Great example of unintended consequences

[quantified]

The result of loopholes in regulations.

[ecommerceguy]

Around here we have these trucks that have giant wheels and they are jacked up like 8 feet. I see no practical use with these lifted trucks and are impossible to see around.

I call them tonka trucks.

[ortusdux]

I've wondered if fines should scale with vehicle weight. Specifically, fines designed to prevent or reduce the damage caused by collisions. In theory, a 6000lb truck going 70 mph would be twice as destructive as a 3000lb car at the same speed.

[zoklet-enjoyer]

Much more than twice

[xattt]

> regulating the size of new trucks and SUVs

I can’t imagine this is within the purview of the NTSB, who focus on individual safety features, rather than vehicle dimensions.

Dimensions are usually the domain of the licensing bodies that license drivers, where license classes dictate acceptable vehicle dimensions. If you want change, start there to up the licensing requirements for monstrously large passenger vehicles.

[wyager]

This is obvious nonsense. Larger vehicles are so much safer to their occupants that it overwhelms the very minor marginal risk increase to non-occupants from larger vehicles.

People who complain constantly about large vehicles almost never have a logical case, or even understand why they have proliferated so much in the last decade (Obama admin emissions regs).

Given the chance in an environment not distorted by emissions regs, most people will use cheaper, less safe cars, but there is no net safety upside.

[quantified]

Larger vehicles are so much safer to their 1-6 occupants that the greater risk to their thousands of non-occupants doesn't matter...

[rocqua]

Being in a bigger car than everyone else makes you safer, but that gets largely nullified if everyone is in a bigger car.

That leads to an arms race with no benefit to anyone and massive costs. A prime example of when government should step in.