The commonly cited study (that of course nobody reads) from the Governors Highway Safety Association showed that if you get hit by a truck or SUV you have a higher chance of dying. They also found that if you adjust for how many of each are on the road, you are 15% more likely to be hit by the driver of a car.

Trucks and SUVs are on average newer than cars and at a higher price point, which means more newer safety features like object detection and driver warnings. I also suspect the feeling of mass in driving a larger vehicle makes you take driving more seriously.

>I also suspect the feeling of mass in driving a larger vehicle makes you take driving more seriously.

I think it's the opposite. Also larger vehicles feel slower when you drive them even when you are doing 80.

Is it that, or is it just that people drive smaller vehicles on average in cities than in rural areas, and that's also where most of the pedestrians are?

It's probably a function of average parking spot size.

Front visibility issues come up from time to time. Especially with children sometimes hidden from sight.

https://www.wthr.com/mobile/article/news/investigations/13-i...

Yes, there are lots of studies on this. If you want info a good place to start is London's upcoming ban on large vehicles with low visibility (I would provide more info, but I'm limited on time right now).

You'd need a study that actually looked at more than just "what happens if you hit a pedestrian at 25 mph" - because it's quite possible that a truck does more damage when it hits, but hits less often because it's higher up and has better visibility.

I feel like I'm much more able to see pedestrians in my Cayman than in my 4Runner. People seem to blend in with the surroundings the higher up I am.