Young children are more than twice as likely to be killed if they are hit by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) compared with an ordinary passenger car, a study has found.
Pedestrians and cyclists were 44 per cent more likely to die if hit by an SUV, rising to 82 per cent for children and 130 per cent for under 10s, the analysis produced by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London showed.
Researchers gathered data from more than 680,000 road collisions over the past 35 years.
They compared the severity of injuries suffered by pedestrians or cyclists struck by standard cars with 'light truck' vehicles (LTVs), which include SUVs, small vans and pickup trucks.
SUVs have grown in popularity in recent years, with many drivers favouring their higher seating position.
They accounted for 54 per cent of the cars sold globally last year, an increase of three percentage points on the previous year, according to GlobalData.
SUVs are generally taller, wider and heavier than traditional cars, and less fuel-efficient.
The study highlighted previous research indicating a key reason for the increased risk from SUVs is that they have a taller front end, which means a person is struck higher on their body.
This means an adult is hit in the pelvis rather than the knees, while a child is struck on the head, not the pelvis.
A blunter front ends also means a person is more likely to be thrown forward, which could result in the vehicle hitting them a second time or rolling over their body, the report added.
Researchers analysed 24 studies, including 16 from the US, with others from countries such as France, Germany and the Netherlands.
The authors estimate the proportion of car crashes involving an SUV is about 20 per cent in Europe and 45 per cent in the US.
If all SUVs were replaced by standard cars, the number of pedestrians and cyclists killed in car crashes would decrease by an estimated 8 per cent in Europe and 17 per cent in the US, they said.
When looking at the likelihood of fatal or serious injury, as compared to slight injury, the likelihood increased by about a quarter (odds 24 per cent higher in adults and 28 per cent higher in children) for those hit by an SUV or LTV. These effects were similar for both pedestrians and cyclists.
A number of cities worldwide have recently introduced, or are considering, policies that discourage the use of such large vehicles. Parisians voted to triple parking costs for SUVs but that was due mainly to pollution concerns rather than safety. Milan has introduced a congestion charge, which is also being considered by Toronto.
Anna Goodman, assistant professor at the LSHTM and senior author of the study, said: “Around the world, we have seen a huge increase in the sale of ever-larger cars. Previous research has found that this trend is substantially undermining progress towards net-zero goals.
“Similarly, our findings indicate that this proliferation of larger vehicles threatens to undermine all the road safety gains being made on other fronts.
“Cities and countries around the world are starting to introduce measures to discourage the use of these large vehicles, and our study strengthens the road safety rationale for this.”
The research is published in the journal Injury Prevention.
Tanya Braun, of UK charity Living Streets, said: “It’s clear that SUVs make people, especially children, less safe while walking on our streets.
“Nearly 50 child pedestrians are killed or injured in England every day and every one of those deaths is a tragedy. We urgently need more measures to protect pedestrians.
“We’re urging the government to invest in active travel infrastructure and safe zones around schools that are proven to help keep children safe from vehicles like SUVs.”
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if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
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Tests 11; Runs 573; 100s 0; 50s 5; Avg 27.38; Best 94
ODIs 58; Runs 1,957; 100s 5; 50s 11; Avg 36.24; Best 171
T20s 52; Runs 1,456; 100s 1; 50s 7; Avg 31.65; Best 116 not out
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Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
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Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
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Founder: Ahmed Wadi
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Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
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Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
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Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
