Reducing serious-to-fatal injuries in pedestrian accidents for children and adults is a proposal by the NHSTA.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed a new rule aimed at improving pedestrian safety and reducing fatalities. The proposed rule, known as Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 228, is part of a broader effort to advance safer vehicles in alignment with the safe system approach.
The rule targets the growing hazard pedestrians face due to heavier and larger vehicles, which have contributed to a significant rise in pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. over the past decade. In 2022, 88% of pedestrian fatalities occurred in single vehicle crashes.
The proposed standard is designed to establish test procedures simulating a head-to-hood impact. It will focus on enhancing pedestrian head protection for uniquely American platforms like pickups and large SUVs, which accounted for nearly a quarter of U.S. passenger vehicle sales in 2020. The test procedures will include the use of human-like headforms representing a diverse range of pedestrians, from a small child to an adult.
The rule is intended to reduce the risk of serious-to-fatal injuries in child and adult pedestrian crashes. Data shows that fatalities of pedestrians struck by the front of a vehicle are most common for multipurpose passenger vehicles (49%) followed by passenger cars (37%) in 2022.
The proposed rule is part of the Department's advancement of safer vehicles and aligns with Global Technical Regulation No. 9. By harmonizing U.S. vehicle regulations globally, it aims to facilitate vehicle manufacturing consistency and better protect vulnerable road users worldwide.
The proposed rule will be open for public comment for 60 days. NHTSA's Deputy Administrator, Sophie Shulman, stated that the proposed rule will help protect vulnerable road users and make roads safer for everyone.
The proposed rule accompanies requirements for automatic emergency braking systems with pedestrian detection, as mandated by FMVSS No. 127. While an exact dollar figure for the estimated savings or economic benefit of the rule was not specified, the enhanced safety measures are expected to reduce medical costs, lost productivity, and other societal costs related to pedestrian crashes, contributing to significant overall savings.
The NHTSA's key proposed rule to improve pedestrian safety involves setting new pedestrian head protection standards under FMVSS No. 228. If implemented, the rule is expected to save 67 lives a year, according to estimates from the NHTSA. The rule is part of broader efforts to reduce pedestrian deaths, which have recently declined for the second straight year.
More information on the rulemaking process is available here, and readers can learn more about the Department's National Roadway Safety Strategy here.
- The new regulation, FMVSS No. 228, in the health-and-wellness sector, is a step towards advancing the science of vehicular safety, particularly focusing on reducing pedestrian fatalities.
- By harmonizing with Global Technical Regulation No. 9 and implementing pedestrian head protection standards, the finance sector may witness significant reductions in medical costs and societal costs associated with pedestrian crashes.
