Growing vehicle dimensions could add thousands of road deaths annually by 2040, signalling safety and regulatory risks for automakers
Executive summary: Research shows steady growth in car sizes since 2000, estimating that the trend could lead to about 2,600 additional crash deaths each year by 2040. The increase poses safety risks for other road users, may raise liability and regulatory exposure for automakers, and has implications for emissions and urban planning. Researchers (unspecified), environmental advocacy groups, automotive manufacturers, and European transport policymakers. Expect calls for EU‑wide vehicle dimension limits, revisions to safety testing protocols, and possible industry shifts toward lighter, more compact models.
A study analysing European new‑vehicle sales since 2000 finds that cars have become on average 1.2 cm longer, 0.5 cm taller and 0.5 cm wider each year. Researchers project that this trend, dubbed “carspreading,” could cause an extra 2,600 crash fatalities per year by 2040, raising concerns for occupants of smaller vehicles and for overall emissions. The findings add to growing pressure on regulators and manufacturers to reconsider vehicle size limits and safety standards.
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