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Comment by ChadNauseam | Hacker News Reader

I haven't watched the video yet, but I assume it's going to be about how new, giant trucks are more deadly to pedestrians. I've heard it said, but not been able to verify, that the rise in these giant trucks is caused by the EPA having less-strict MPG requirements for heavier vehicles. Does anyone know more about this?

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Yes, but there's also an element of pervase incentive related to safety adding to it. There was an additional regulation put in some time ago regarding hood design, such that pedestrians have a crumple zone above the engine block. The correct way to solve this was mount the engine lower and slope the hood more, but auto manufacturers decided to just jack up the whole frontal facade instead, defeating the whole purpose. I'm not arguing against having this regulation btw, there are worse out there, it's just interesting is all

This so much. I desperately want something like a Hilux but they aren't imported or produced because of epa regulations. The smallest thing you can get is a Tacoma/ranger which are all bigger than most SUVs. It's absolutely bonkers

I love the idea of the Hilux, but I have personally found the original Tacoma (similar size) had a tiny death trap of a cab, and the current Tacoma still isn’t big enough to fully extend my legs. I also rode in a competing model in South America, and was surprised how rough the engine (and everything else) was. It was like a large UTV. They are great machines in many ways but I can’t see that many people in the US actually buying one.

They would do great in light duty commercial applications like lawn services and so forth, but those seem perfectly satisfied with the old, fully depreciated ranger, hilux, and tacoma floating around.

The modern Hilux is pretty big. The 2020+ is the same size as a Ford Maverick (although there is a short wheelbase version that is 13 inches shorter).

I love the size of the Fiat Strada and Dacia (Renault) Duster. My friend came to Brazil with me and also fell in love with them, but there's nothing currently on the market in the US like that.

Yes, you are are right, they are effectively cheaper to sell due to less stringent emission/efficiency regulations (watched the video)

Which should make the "solution" obvious to the regulators.

To license them as a "passenger car", they have to also meet passenger car safety, emissions, and fuel economy standards. If they don't meet those standards (that were in effect as of their build date) then they can't be licensed as a "passenger car".

https://www.transportation.gov/mission/sustainability/corpor...

MPG and GHG emissions per mile seem to both be part of the fuel economy standards in the US now.

It's also to do with safety equipment: it's basically the same stuff whether you build a sedan or a truck, so it costs the same to put in. But perceptually the consumer gets "more cat" for their money by buying a bigger vehicle since the safety gear is largely a fixed cost.

They're more deadly to anything that encounters them in an accident that is smaller than them.

I was driving a hatchback in 2015 and was rear ended by a truck at an intersection when I slowed down for the amber light while the truck didn’t. I ended up in the middle of the intersection, with traffic just starting to go on both sides.

The worst part, the back of the car was boxed in so far, that it almost touched the driver’s seat. Thankfully no one was sitting behind me. The truck on the other hand had a after market metal guard in front of it, which meant it had little damage beyond the guard needing a paint job. Even the headlights were intact. I remember thinking that I’ll never want to drive anything smaller than a truck if I want to drive in America. It took my 7 years before I switched back to a sedan, thanks to Tesla M3.

Shit that sucks. I was rear ended by a station wagon in my my truck when I slowed down at a give way an he didn't. I'm 2300kgs so I hardly moved. He got a nice dent in his bumper from my towbar.

Maybe you should get a truck?

(I'm not in America)

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