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suffertunity t1_ixzcbw6 wrote

non-paywalled

It's crazy that deaths are rising given how many safety features have been added in the last decade or two (traction control, rear cameras, automatic braking). I think there's two factors at play that have a synergistic effect: 1) bigger vehicles with no additional taxes or discouragement for vehicles that are less safe for other drivers or pedestrians 2) Increasing number of assholes. And they boost each other because the vehicles represented by (1) appeal most to the people who represent (2).

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MrPterodactyl t1_ixzpx04 wrote

Yes, but some safety features actually make things worse for pedestrians and cyclists. For example, A pillars (the two structural pieces to the side of the windshield) have gone up in width in order to house side airbags and meet rollover requirements. This makes the forward blind spot of a car much larger.

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thebruns t1_ixzrstt wrote

Rear window visibility is also dreadful these days

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Quelcris_Falconer13 t1_iy2qt1j wrote

A pillars is what they’re called? I agree they’re wide. I often bounce my head around looking around it to see cuz there’s been a few times I missed someone as they were in that blind spot and I nearly hit them

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[deleted] t1_ixzisyx wrote

[deleted]

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Ancient-Isopod-2991 t1_ixzo6qs wrote

Please explain

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thebruns t1_ixzrr2v wrote

Suvs and pickups are classified differently from sedans

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Ancient-Isopod-2991 t1_ixzt3c4 wrote

Just because SUVs and pickup trucks are classified differently I still don't understand your conclusion. I do see that in 2009 Obama offered Cash for clunkers which actually encouraged to purchase of lower priced more fuel efficient vehicles. How does that equate to SUVs and pickups.

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SnortingCoffee t1_ixzuvdl wrote

I think you replied to the wrong comment here, but the short version is that vehicles over a certain size were considered work vehicles, not road vehicles, and thus exempted from the normal regulations. This size, at the time, seemed so massive that it was a clear difference, and there's no way manufacturers would start making every single small to mid-sized truck absolutely huge, would they? Oops, that's exactly what happened.

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vwcx t1_ixzwcmb wrote

This is the exact reason that federal regulations need to adjust as market conditions evolve...unfortunately a belief that's incompatible with modern politics on a certain side of the spectrum. Same reason we're finding it hard to regulate almost anything these days.....the BUT MUH FREEDUMZ crowd is to thank.

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buxtonOJ t1_ixzejt8 wrote

PHONES!!! People are on them more and more

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[deleted] t1_ixziqao wrote

[deleted]

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buxtonOJ t1_ixzli31 wrote

I did, and still stand by my comment.

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thebruns t1_ixzru5r wrote

You don't think they have phones in every other country?

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buxtonOJ t1_ixztoec wrote

I do, however in more tech savvy countries the prevalence of smart phones (they’re more distracting) is muchhh higher as well as more lax laws on using said phones. Throw in automatic transmissions that are much more prevalent in the US (only need to use one hand to drive, other can be on your phone) as well as a general societal selfishness that seems to be more widespread here and you’re going to see increased numbers. Just my 2 cents - a couple mentions of other countries in a basic article isn’t a great argument.

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sagarnola89 t1_iy19tpd wrote

And smart phones. 15 years ago there was no reason to be playing on your phone while driving.

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