Oversized Danger

Pickup trucks and large SUVs pose acute danger to cyclists and pedestrians because of their weight, driver blind spots, and front-end vehicle height.

Community Bikeways is part of the Coalition to Reduce Auto Size Hazards (C.R.A.S.H.), an initiative launched in August 2022 by an Ontario-wide coalition of 16 road safety and community groups. The coalition is led by Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC), Bike Law Canada, Bike Windsor Essex, Community Bikeways (TCBC), Friends and Families for Safe Streets (FFSS), and Walk Toronto.

In January 2023, representatives of the coalition met with Ontario Chief Coroner, Dr. Dirk Huyer to discuss the call to action. Although the coroner did not grant the call for a death review for crashes involving pickups and large SUVs, he did commit to working with the coalition in developing recommendations to curb the greater dangers of pickups and SUVs to pedestrians and cyclists.

On April 18, 2024, C.R.A.S.H. released its report, Oversized Danger: Report and Recommendations to Address the Danger of Pickups and Large SUVs to Pedestrians and Cyclists in Canada, outlining the problem, summarizing the research, and articulating eleven recommendations to federal, provincial, and municipal governments. The report was presented at a symposium at the University of Toronto hosted by the Centre for Cities (University of Windsor) and the Mobility Network (U of T).

A week later, C.R.A.S.H. presented an online presentation by University of Hawaii professor, Justin Tyndall, author of the Economics of Transportation article, “The effect of front-end vehicle height on pedestrian death risk”.