You may have felt that there’s less space on the road than there used to be. The main reason for this is that cars have got bigger.
Modern cars have crumple zones and airbags which bloat the vehicle size. Yet, that’s not the only reason they’ve increased in size.
Manufacturers prefer to sell larger vehicles
Auto manufacturers have persuaded many people that bigger is safer. This allows them to put more features into the vehicles, which in turn allows them to increase the average sale price. People are willing to pay more because they feel they are getting more.
Some of those features do indeed improve safety. However, some are just about comfort or entertainment. The flip side to this is that many of those features that protect the occupants increase the danger for other road users.
Generally speaking, it is better to be hit by a small car than a big one. The SUVs and pickups that now dominate the market tend to weigh more so hit with more force. They have higher, flatter front ends, so hit higher up the body and leave people with little chance of being flung to the side or over the bonnet, thus causing greater injuries and making death more likely.
So, yes, bigger cars can be safer for those who travel in them, but they can be a lot more dangerous for everyone else. This includes people in other smaller cars, as they too will be hit at a higher height, bypassing their lower-lying crumple zones and airbags and so not affording those inside the protection they expect.
Learning how to claim compensation will be essential if someone driving a large vehicle hits you.