Rising height of car bonnets a 'clear threat' to child safety

The bonnet height of new cars in the UK and elsewhere in Europe is rising relentlessly, a report has found, bringing a "clear and growing threat to public safety, especially for children".

- Damian Carrington

Higher fronts on cars significantly increase the death rate when pedestrians are struck. The analysis also found that drivers in the tallest cars could not see children as old as nine at all when they were directly in front of the vehicle.

The UK has an especially large number of the cars with the highest bonnets. This is a result of greater sales of Land Rover models that, with Jeep, are the only car brands with average bonnet heights of more than 100cm (39.3in). The researchers accused Land Rover of "trading on the intimidation that comes with high-fronted vehicles [and] ignoring their related dangers".

In crashes, high-bonneted SUVs are more likely to strike the vital organs in the core of adults' bodies and the heads of children. Hitting pedestrians above their centre of gravity means they are more likely to be knocked forward and down and then be driven over. Low bonnets tend to hit pedestrians' legs, giving them a greater chance of falling onto the vehicle and being deflected.

The report, by the advocacy group Transport & Environment (T&E), found that the average bonnet height of new cars sold in Europe rose from 77cm in 2010 to 84cm in 2024.