Regulating Light Trucks and SUVs: Making America's Roads Safer and Air Cleaner

The increase of trucks and SUVs on the roads in the United States has made streets less safe while contributing to poorer air quality. Compared to other vehicles, trucks and SUVs have a higher center of gravity, a ridged vehicle frame with a larger engine block, a heavier weight requiring more gas to move, and emitting more greenhouse gases. These vehicle features make accidents more common, decrease driver visibility, increase the potential for pedestrian fatalities, and make car accidents more deadly for non-truck or SUV vehicles. This Note explores solutions to these issues and discusses regulatory actions that the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and National Highway Traffic Security Administration (“NHTSA”) can promulgate to reduce vehicle emissions and increase the safety features of trucks and SUVs. The EPA can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving fuel economy standards. The NHTSA can (1) regulate the structure of trucks and SUVs to require safety features for pedestrians and other drivers; (2) require all new and used truck and SUV purchasers be informed of potential safety issues; and (3) similarly categorize trucks and SUVs as passenger cars for fuel economy regulations. Working together, both agencies can ensure that automobile manufacturers account for the greenhouse gas emissions and safety features of trucks and SUVs in future model years, help slow or reverse the recent rise of pedestrian fatalities, and contribute to improved air quality. Ultimately, the EPA, NHTSA, and automobile manufacturers must balance the need to improve safety features and emissions standards in a palatable manner to American consumers.