The article is in Italian, so I’m pasting the translation below

It was made automatically with an LLM, so it may be incorrect somewhere

The “Gigantism” of European Cars Puts Vulnerable Road Users at Risk
Andrea Siccardo | June 25, 2025

The “epidemic of gigantism” in European cars is a problem—and it doesn’t just harm the environment but also endangers pedestrians and drivers. According to a June 2025 study by the European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) and the Clean Cities Campaign, the size of vehicles sold in Europe has increased significantly. Specifically, the average height of vehicle front ends has risen by seven centimeters between 2010 and 2024. This reduces driver visibility and makes collisions more dangerous for pedestrians and vulnerable road users, such as cyclists—and even drivers themselves.

“Tall hoods put pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers of smaller cars at serious risk. In many cases, children standing in front of these vehicles are completely invisible to the driver,” said Esther Marchetti, Clean Transport Advocacy Manager at T&E Italy. “With car manufacturers increasingly focusing on SUVs and large vehicles—where profit margins are highest—at the expense of road safety, the problem will only worsen unless clear limits are introduced as soon as possible.”

The trend of automakers producing increasingly massive vehicles, known as “carspreading,” has led to the average car hood height rising from 76.9 cm in 2010 to 83.8 cm last year—an annual increase of half a centimeter. This growth is largely due to the spread of SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles). While they accounted for just 12% of sales in 2010, by 2024, they made up 56%.

Italy has seen the most significant increase. Last year, the average hood height of cars sold reached 85 cm—a paradox, considering that in 2010, Italy had the lowest figure among the surveyed countries at 76.3 cm. This surge is attributed to the expansion of Jeep (Stellantis Group) sales, which accounted for 5% of Italy’s total in 2024, compared to just 1% in Europe overall. Currently, there are no European or national regulations limiting a car’s front-end height.

Increase in the average height of the front of new cars sold in Europe

The figures so far reflect averages—but it’s worth examining the largest vehicles, the true road giants. The most massive light vehicle sold in Europe is the Ram TRX. This American pickup, though not certified for the European market, can be imported through “individual approval”—a process the study’s authors deem far too lenient. Its hood stands at 130 cm tall. Smaller but still imposing are Jaguar Land Rover (up to 115 cm) and Jeep (up to 123 cm), the two largest models with front ends exceeding one meter that are officially approved for Europe.

Beyond undermining transport decarbonization goals, the T&E and Clean Cities study highlights the dangers to road safety. As mentioned, collisions become far riskier for pedestrians and cyclists. T&E reports that cars with high front ends strike adults above their center of gravity, increasing the likelihood of fatal organ damage. Additionally, at an impact speed of around 50 km/h, taller cars are more likely to push pedestrians under the vehicle rather than to the side, making crashes far deadlier.

A study by Belgium’s VIAS Institute for Road Safety, analyzing 300,000 road users, found that increasing front-end height (from 80 to 90 cm) raises the risk of death for cyclists and pedestrians by 27%. It also showed that when massive SUVs (like pickups) collide with regular cars, occupants of the latter face a 20–50% higher chance of severe injury.

Cars with a higher front often push pedestrians under the vehicle instead of sideways

Taller hoods don’t just make crashes deadlier—they also make them more likely by reducing driver visibility. T&E’s tests found that a Ram TRX can completely hide a 9-year-old child (average height: 136 cm) standing in front of it. Meanwhile, a Land Rover Defender driver cannot see a 4.5-year-old child (110 cm tall).

The higher the front of the car, the bigger the blind spot

T&E and Clean Cities urge the EU and UK to regulate vehicle dimensions and set a maximum hood height by 2035 as part of measures to curb oversized vehicles. The study suggests an 85 cm limit, pending “further research.”

Other proposed measures include disincentivizing large vehicle purchases. National and city authorities could adjust taxes and parking fees based on weight, size, and emissions. Examples include Paris, Lyon, and Aachen, which already tie parking costs to these factors.

“An epidemic of four-wheeled monsters is spreading through our cities,” said Claudio Magliulo, Clean Cities’ Italy Campaign Manager. “Vehicles marketed as off-roaders are routinely used for short urban trips. These mega-SUVs endanger children and exacerbate the decades-long takeover of public space for driving and parking. Mayors must act faster—through parking policies and restrictions on certain vehicle types—to limit oversized SUVs, reclaim public space for people, and prioritize everyone’s right to safe mobility.”