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The Grille Trend that Kills 509 People per Year

FortNine · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Cars, EVs & motorcyclesTransit, cities & urban planningProduct & industrial design

What it is

FortNine looks at the data on why newer pickup trucks with tall, blunt grilles kill so many pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. It argues that lowering hood height would substantially cut fatalities.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN people cite it in threads on vehicle size and safety as a clear explanation tying grille height to deaths.

  • 5 people recommended it
  • 5 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2024, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “it would take only a minor change to have a huge impact and reduce deaths and injuries”

    Shows a minor grille change could cut deaths and injuries.

    fnimick, 2024-03 · Recommendation · in “A 7k-Pound Car Smashed Through a Guardrail. That's Bad News for All of Us”

  2. “This guy ties grill height directly to fatalities.”

    Ties grille height directly to fatalities.

    kungfooey, 2024-04 · Recommendation · in “Plunging Pickup Truck Sales Threaten Detroit's Profit Engine”

  3. “Thank you Ryan from Fortnine.”

    Explains why tall truck fronts kill pedestrians and motorcyclists.

    Workaccount2, 2024-08 · Recommendation · in “A road safety plan that will lead to cars communicating with each other”

  4. “offers a good view on some other aspects of the situation.”

    Offers a good view on other aspects of vehicle size trends.

    mech975, 2024-09 · Recommendation · in “What to do about America's killer cars”

  5. “Tall grilles are a purely aesthetic choice.”

    Explains tall grilles are an aesthetic choice that safety standards could fix.

    stickfigure, 2026-04 · Recommendation · in “UAE Leaves OPEC and OPEC+”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: pickup trucks, pedestrian safety, hood height, vehicle design, road safety

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