Scanlon, Thompson, Friedman Introduce Legislation to Prevent Pedestrian Accidents and Deaths

Scanlon, Thompson, Friedman Introduce Legislation to Prevent Pedestrian Accidents and Deaths

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-40), and Rep. Laura Friedman (CA-30) today introduced the Pedestrian Protection Act to address the rapid rise in pedestrian fatalities related to increased SUV and pickup truck size, by requiring the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop vehicle safety standards to protect pedestrians, bicyclists, and vulnerable road users. The bill would implement standards for dangerous features like vehicle height and hood and bumper design, and a minimum visibility standard to reduce blind zones.

Over the past 15 years, pedestrian deaths resulting from car crashes have risen by 80 percent. During this period, many popular vehicle models in the United States have become larger, higher, heavier, and include more blunt features. A growing body of research demonstrates the link between SUVs and pickups with these design features and increased risk for pedestrians, especially children. Larger vehicles have reduced driver visibility, leading to higher rates of crashes with pedestrians, including cyclists and children.

"As cars and pickup trucks have become bigger and heavier, we are seeing pedestrian fatalities reach historic highs, and newer vehicles often leave drivers unable to fully see their surroundings, including pedestrians, children, and bicyclists," said Rep. Scanlon. "With larger, heavier, higher vehicles becoming more popular in the United States, we cannot ignore the growing body of research that links such vehicles to increased risk for pedestrians. I'm proud to introduce the Pedestrian Protection Act to push for vehicle safety and visibility standards to address these risks and design flaws and prioritize the safety of our children and families."

"The large, square hoods of modern SUVs and trucks have created dangerous blind spots for drivers, and these kinds of vehicles are 45 percent more likely to kill a pedestrian in a crash. That's why I'm co-leading this bill with Rep. Scanlon to improve vehicle safety standards and establish a minimum visibility standard for cars to reduce blind spots and to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and everyone else on the road," said Rep. Mike Thompson, Co-Chair, Congressional Bike Caucus.

"Pedestrians, especially kids, are paying the price for cars that weren't designed with their safety in mind," said Rep. Laura Friedman (CA-30). "With pedestrian deaths up 80 percent in 15 years, the Pedestrian Protection Act is a commonsense fix that finally puts safety first. I'm proud to co-lead this effort with Congresswoman Scanlon to keep families safe, because every Angeleno and every American deserves to get home safely."

The bill is endorsed by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, America Walks, Center for Auto Safety, Kids and Car Safety, League of American Bicyclists, and the National Safety Council.

"America's vehicles are getting larger and heavier every year, contributing to greater risk of death or injury for pedestrians, bicyclists, and everyone else on the road," said Michael Brooks, Executive Director, Center for Auto Safety. "Congresswoman Scanlon's Pedestrian Protection Act addresses this growing problem, requiring the development of safety standards to improve pedestrian crashworthiness, while incentivizing automakers to improve vehicle designs and visibility to prevent these crashes from occurring."

"Every person should be able to walk, bike, roll or cross the street safely. Yet, this isn't always the case; 7,080 pedestrians and 1,103 bicyclists were killed in 2024, and thousands more were injured. Vehicles with large blind zones result in poor visibility and vehicles with heavy weights increase the risk of death or serious injury," said Catherine Chase, President of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. "The Pedestrian Protection Act would help address these preventable hazards by establishing new safety standards on vehicle design and minimum visibility standards as well as enhancing consumer safety information. We commend Reps. Mary Gay Scanlon, Mike Thompson, and Laura Friedman for introducing this commonsense legislation and urge Congress to advance it to better protect vulnerable road users."

"Far too many children, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vulnerable road users are being seriously injured or killed by vehicles that were never designed with their safety in mind. As vehicles have become larger, taller, and heavier, the risks to people outside the vehicle have grown significantly. The Pedestrian Protection Act takes a commonsense approach by directing safety regulators to evaluate how vehicle design impacts those most at risk and to establish meaningful safety standards that can save lives. Every family deserves to know that their child can walk, bike, play, and travel through their community without facing unnecessary danger from preventable vehicle design hazards," said Amber Rollins, Executive Director, Kids and Car Safety.

"The number of people killed outside vehicles is skyrocketing in America, driven by the rise of oversized SUVs and trucks with poor visibility and dangerous designs. This is a preventable crisis, and we have the power to change it," said Mike McGinn, Executive Director of America Walks. "The Pedestrian Protection Act puts the solution within reach. By pushing for safer vehicle design standards and adopting life-saving technologies, it directly addresses the reasons so many people outside of cars are injured or killed. Everyone crossing the street deserves to get home alive."

"At a time when pedestrian deaths account for 18% of all traffic fatalities, protecting these vulnerable road users is paramount to ending the ongoing crisis on our roadways," said Lorraine Martin, CEO of the National Safety Council. "The Pedestrian Protection Act would improve safety by directing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop and implement standards designed to keep those outside the vehicle safe. The National Safety Council applauds Representatives Scanlon, Thompson, and Friedman for reintroducing this lifesaving legislation and urges Congress to support it."

"After a traffic crash we often hear 'I just didn't see them.' People assume bigger cars give them better visibility, when in reality it may mean they are less likely to see a pedestrian right in front of them, even a child in a crosswalk. In crashes, larger cars also put people outside of cars at risk for more serious injuries or death. The Pedestrian Protection Act takes steps towards safety standards and consumer education around vehicle size and blindspots. It is a critical bill that can reduce the heartache of pedestrians, their families, and the drivers who never meant to harm them," said Bill Nesper, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists.

Find the full bill text here.

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