NHTSA Proposes New Vehicle Safety Standard to Better Protect Pedestrians

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is advancing pedestrian safety by proposing a new rule to reduce fatalities and serious injuries among pedestrians struck by vehicles. The proposed rule would establish a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requiring new passenger vehicles be designed to reduce the risk of serious-to-fatal injuries in child and adult pedestrian crashes. 

In 2022, 88% of pedestrian fatalities occurred in single vehicle crashes. The proposed rule would apply to passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, including multipurpose passenger vehicles (trucks, SUVs, crossovers and vans). Data show 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. 

“We have a crisis of roadway deaths, and it’s even worse among vulnerable road users like pedestrians. Between 2013 and 2022, pedestrian fatalities increased 57% from 4,779 to 7,522. This proposed rule will ensure that vehicles will be designed to protect those inside and outside from serious injury or death. We will continue to work to make our roads safer for everyone and help protect vulnerable road users,” said Sophie Shulman, NHTSA’s Deputy Administrator. 

The proposed standard would establish test procedures simulating a head-to-hood impact and performance requirements to minimize the risk of head injury. NHTSA estimates the new standard would save 67 lives a year. 

The test procedures also include the use of human-like headforms to measure the head-to-hood impact. The headforms NHTSA proposes to use in testing the new standard represent a diverse range of pedestrians, from a small child to an adult. 

The proposed rule meets a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directive to harmonize U.S. vehicle regulations globally to promote vehicle safety. This standard, when finalized, would align with Global Technical Regulation No. 9, with focused enhancements to ensure that uniquely American platforms, such as pickups and large SUVs, would provide the proposed level of pedestrian head protection. Those two platforms represented nearly a quarter of U.S. passenger vehicle sales in 2020. This action supports the Department’s advancement of safer vehicles in alignment with the safe system approach. 

NHTSA will be accepting public comment on the proposed rule for 60 days. More information on the rulemaking process is available here. Read more about the Department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy here.