20 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.
culiJan 2026Strongly recommends
Here's a video I wish I could make every American watch ▶ this video It provides a deep-dive video into the history of how we got to the situation we're in today with American cars exploding in size. It actually has its origins in Obama-era legislation for emissions standards that made an exception for "light trucks". SUVs are legally classified as light trucks so the industry has massively pushed these tanks onto the consumer promising more safety. It has led to a dramatic decrease in public safety and pedestrian deaths that is unique to the US. One contributor to these deaths is literally parents running over their own children in their own driveways. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY. The video goes over the visibility issues with these trucks, how our safety regulations fail to account for them (light trucks only need to be tested in collision with other light trucks) and also covers how modern trucks have the same carrying capacity as pickup trucks from 30 years ago (the main thing that's increased is the hull and cabin size) while being harder to use for actual work since the bed is higher offer the ground
in “Canada slashes 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs to 6%” · View on HN
pastacacioepepeApr 2023Strongly recommends
Just do yourself a favour and watch this video[0], you might learn why SUVs and in general cars with a taller bumper height are more dangerous. .0: ▶ this video
in “SUVs more dangerous to cyclists than other cars, study suggests” · View on HN
eskaMar 2023Strongly recommends
As a European I was really surprised why SUVs are so popular in the US, making biking extremely dangerous. This documentary was quite eye-opening for me: ▶ this video Similarly in Germany we’re building a new Autobahn in the middle of a city (Berlin) under extreme costs, while still neglecting investment in trains, because we’re a car country.
in “Building a city optimized for bikes is a choice” · View on HN
turquoisevarDec 2023Recommends
I’m not sure how it relates to passenger safety regulations, but it is true that in the US there is a lower set of fuel efficiency and safety requirements for light trucks. And SUVs are classified as light trucks, hence the push by manufacturers for people to buy SUVs. Not Just Bikes has a pretty extensive video on it: ▶ this video
in “Tesla Has a Design Problem” · View on HN
rurounijonesAug 2023Recommends
> That's the first time I hear this argument. SUVs and the like exploit a loophole in various standards like fuel efficiency requirements because they are not "cars" but "Light trucks" and therefore those standards don't apply to them; which makes them cheaper to design and build for automotive companies. The "Light trucks" category was supposed to be used for light commercial vehicles, not personal vehicles but then the law of unintended consequences had a love-child with profit seeking corporations and their linguistic games. Literally the only reason SUVs and trucks became popular is because the automotive manufacturers could make more money doing it that way and convinced the consumers to buy them. NotJustBikes did a good intro video on the subject. * [link] * ▶ this video
in “Weight-based motor vehicle tax” · View on HN
crooked-vApr 2023Recommends
On that note, there's the video essay "These Stupid Trucks are Literally Killing Us" ▶ this video , which includes various statistics and some striking visual examples of the absolutely absurd grill heights of modern production vehicles.
in “Giving kids no autonomy at all has become a parenting norm” · View on HN
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kinjba11Apr 2023Recommends
Not Just Bikes, a YouTuber made a video about increasing vehicle sizes in the US and why you may be interested in ▶ this video
in “Rural Americans are importing tiny Japanese pickup trucks” · View on HN
m000Apr 2023Recommends
These Stupid Trucks are Literally Killing Us [1] explains in detail how "trucks" overtook "cars" as the most popular vehicle in the US, and legislation that lead to that. (Quotes because the words refer to the legal definition of trucks/cars.) [1] ▶ this video
in “Rural Americans are importing tiny Japanese pickup trucks” · View on HN
throw0101aMar 2023Recommends
> Article didn't mention CAFE (which is the reason for larger sizes) nor chicken tax (which makes, even if they qualified under CAFE, foreign small trucks economically non-viable). I was pointed to the article from the just-posted Not Just Bikes video "These Stupid Trucks are Literally Killing Us", which does go over those things: * ▶ this video The point of the Axios article, which comes up at the 25m25s point in the NJB video, goes towards the point that the pickup truck has actually become less practical over the decades. And to the idea that most folks would be better served with a station wagon or perhaps a minivan. Trucks have gone from the cargo bed being >60% of the usable length (ignoring the engine), to the (crew) cab being >60% of the useable length. Pickup trucks gone from thing-haulers to people-haulers, in which case, why bother with that form factor?
in “Pickup Trucks: From Workhorse to Joyride” · View on HN
vanilla_nutMar 2023Recommends
Not Just Bikes video on the same subject today: ▶ this video It's crazy to see how much trucks have blown up in the last few years. They clog up parking lots, barely fit in parking garages (let alone personal garages), blind me at night with their too-high too-bright headlights, and completely block cross-street vision for anything except other trucks when they park on the street. A complete failure of US govt regulation. At this point I hope gas prices go through the roof and punish these truck owners for their selfish decisionmaking.
in “Pickup Trucks: From Workhorse to Joyride” · View on HN
estebankMar 2023Recommends
Not Just Bikes just released a very relevant video about the very real problems that SUVs and modern trucks have on urban environments. ▶ this video
in “Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2022 Preliminary Data” · View on HN
genxyJun 2026Cites it
The Grille Trend that Kills 509 People per Year [link] video discussed previously [link] These Stupid Trucks are Literally Killing Us ▶ this video The original designer wanted the truck to feel like you were driving a fist, punching through the air. So we are killing people so that the driver can have an aggressive aesthetic. And the design has spread like a contagious meme, even BMWs have it now.
in “The Deadly Rise of Giant Trucks and S.U.V.s” · View on HN
CalRobertDec 2025Cites it
NotJustBikes just put out a video about this issue - [link] A couple years ago he also made a video about these trucks more broadly - ▶ this video What's truly maddening is how many of these vehicles which _do not_ meet European safety standards are _already_ in Europe. Walk around Hilversum in the Netherlands and you will see plenty of Dodge Rams (mostly 1500's, but there's even a 2500 Dually usually parked on the sidewalk ("pavement "for Brits) where my kids used to go to school). They're imported under "Individual Vehicle Approval" rules, exempting them from type safety requirements, and on top of that are almost always registered as "business vehicles" (you can tell from the V plate) which means they pay an absolute pittance in tax. I moved here to get away from American kindercrushers (among other reasons) and I am profoundly concerned that Europe is being invaded by these machines. (Edit) Worth noting is that a lot of Dutch street design is based on the idea that people _can_ share space with cars in dense, low speed environments, but that assumption flies out the window when the vehicles are so large you can't even see a kid walking or biking to school. Further edit - source - [link] 5,000 Dodge Rams imported in to Europe in 2023 alone.
in “Accepting US car standards would risk European lives” · View on HN
vfclistsSep 2024Cites it
Why don't cyclists use cycle lanes - [link] ▶ this video Can you think of why it is a good idea for vehicles which weigh 2000kg and more to be used to transport 90kg loads all day long at needless risk to lesser road users? Why can't the motor vehicle industry develop smaller powered vehicles sheltered from the elements for personal transport, something not much more than a 3 wheeled scooter with a canopy? As a technically aware guy does that really make sense? Motor vehicles as they are are primarily recreational vehicles and status symbols, not means of moving 100kg individuals and their handbags or briefcases if they are carrying any around town.
in “London saw a surprising benefit to ultra-low emissions zone: More active kids” · View on HN
hayertjezJul 2024Cites it
Meanwhile cars are allowed to get bigger, heavier and thus more dangerous (SUV and Pickup trucks). See ▶ this video Not as an excuse for a driver to take seat after drinking too much alcohol or taking cannabis. I find it a rearguard action by concentrating too much on the driver and not on the weapon (car) itself. In my opinion a more difficult but more worthwhile is to make infrastructure more safe in general.
in “Car Crash Deaths Involving Cannabis on the Rise” · View on HN
toomuchtodoJan 2024Cites it
How would you force automakers to do so if Congress or executive branch agencies won’t change light vehicle and truck regulations? Some change is happening, albeit slowly (with regards to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways). ▶ this video [link]
in “In a win for the climate (and safety), urban US speed limits are dropping” · View on HN
socksyJan 2024Cites it
SUVs are pushed by manufacturers due to their relative lack of regulation in the US, and so the more money they can make from them. Safety and car seat sizes have nothing to do with it. ▶ this video
in “Cars suck, man” · View on HN
Cntrl-FrkMay 2023Cites it
As presented by 'Not Just Bikes' [1] the heavy truck trend has been going for some time. The legislation around larger trucks is different and has a stronger profit motive. Curious to see an exec talking about the trend as a negative. [1] ▶ this video
in “An auto CEO came close to saying the right thing about heavy EV batteries” · View on HN
jterrysApr 2023Cites it
But that's not at all the reason why. Even the article explains it. They sold well but Chevrolet's quality control is bad. They lost money because of recalls and lack of good control processes to make these cars. They ran a cost benefit analysis and said, "fuck it, we'll continue making shittier cars". It also doesn't help that many U.S manufacturers opt into building Trucks and SUVs to avoid emission regulations: ▶ this video
in “Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV production is ending this year” · View on HN
VoodooJuJuMar 2023Critical
I can't listen to videos like this where the narrator uses emotional affectations in a scripted report. > ▶ this video >They're just... BAD for cities. Really bad. > ▶ this video >We're constantly being told that the astronomical growth in the average size of motor vehicles would infringe on the """ FREEDOMS """ of people to do whatever they want. It's cringe, unnatural, and distracts from the message. Present the logic of your argument in a neutral manner and leave it to the listener for emotional interpretation - don't force it.
in “These Stupid Trucks are Literally Killing Us” · View on HN