Study: Large SUVs Double Risk of Death for Children Under 10

New research from the United Kingdom reveals the higher risk of larger vehicles for pedestrians and cyclists.

1 minute read

May 7, 2025, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


View from back of woman and child walking on London street wearing warm clothes with a black cab visible in background.

LIANG / Adobe Stock

A new study affirms the increased risk to pedestrians and cyclists posed by larger SUVs. According to an article by Ross Lydall in The Standard, the study from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Imperial College London showed a 44 percent higher risk of death for people on foot or bike hit by “supersized” SUVs. The risk rose to 82 percent for children, and to 130 percent for children under 10.

“This means that pedestrians and cyclists will be struck higher up on their body (e.g. the pelvis not the knees for an adult, or the head not the pelvis for a child),” posing a higher risk of fatal injuries. People struck by large vehicles are also more likely to be thrown forward and struck again by the same car, Lydall adds. “The researchers estimated that the proportion of car crashes involving an SUV to be around 45 per cent in the USA and 20 per cent in Europe.”

In London, road deaths dropped from 102 to 95 between 2022 and 2023, but rose again to 110 in 2024, but Transport for London’s data does not indicate how many deaths were from SUV crashes.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 in The Standard

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

5 hours ago - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

6 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

7 hours ago - Cities Today