Rising SUV Sales in Europe Heighten Safety Concerns

The height of new car hoods in Europe is increasing by about half a centimeter annually, primarily driven by the rise in SUV sales, according to recent research. This trend raises road safety concerns, as taller hoods reduce drivers’ visibility of pedestrians, particularly children, and amplify injury severity in collisions.

In 2024, the average hood height of newly sold cars across the EU, the UK, and Norway, where the data was collected, reached 83.8 cm (33 inches), compared to 76.9 cm (30.3 inches) in 2010. This rise aligns with SUVs’ growing market share, which surged from 12% of new car sales in 2010 to 56% in 2023. Currently, no European or national regulations limit hood height, leaving the trend unchecked.

According to the Transport & Environment (T&E) higher hoods significantly alter crash dynamics. In collisions involving pedestrians or cyclists, SUVs and pickup trucks with elevated fronts often strike above the victim’s center of gravity, targeting vital organs and increasing the likelihood of victims being pulled under the vehicle rather than pushed aside. A Belgian study of 300,000 crashes found that a 10 cm (4-inch) increase in hood height—from 80 cm to 90 cm—correlates with a 27% higher fatality risk for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

Tests commissioned by T&E reveal serious visibility challenges for drivers of vehicles with high hoods. For instance, drivers of the Ram TRX pickup cannot see children up to nine years old standing directly in front of the vehicle. Similarly, Land Rover Defender drivers cannot see children younger than five.

“Higher hoods endanger pedestrians, cyclists, and even occupants of smaller cars. Some of the highest fronts make it impossible to see children standing nearby. With SUVs dominating the market, this problem will worsen unless limits are imposed,” said James Nix, Vehicles Policy Manager, T&E.

In response, over 30 civil society organizations have urged the European Commission to propose legislation by July 2027 to cap vehicle dimensions, focusing on hood height and width, with implementation targeted for 2035. T&E recommends limiting hood height to a maximum of 85 cm (33.5 inches) to safeguard vulnerable road users.

“A child is killed daily on our roads, yet vehicles are being designed so large that children standing in front are invisible to drivers. How is that acceptable? Fortunately, more city leaders are opposing car-centric designs, advocating for safe, green streets over oversized vehicles,” said Barbara Stoll, Senior Director, Clean Cities Campaign.

Without regulation, hood heights are expected to continue rising, potentially reaching 92 cm (36 inches) by 2040, with some pickups exceeding one meter (39 inches). Such heights are linked to more severe injuries in crashes.

A lack of transparency compounds the issue: current vehicle registration documents do not include hood height, restricting authorities’ ability to manage vehicle dimensions. T&E recommends including hood height, width, length, and overall height in vehicle registration certificates by 2030.

Notably, hood height is not a barrier to electrification. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) generally feature hoods 2.3 cm lower than the average, benefiting both energy efficiency and range.