Automakers weigh risks to walkers

0 Comments | USA TODAY, October, 2007 | by Jayne O'Donnell

Automakers are increasingly adding safety features to U.S. models to reduce the chance of injury or death to pedestrians if they are hit by one of their cars.

The efforts have been spurred by regulations in Japan and Europe, where pedestrian injuries and deaths in car crashes are more common than here. Car companies including Honda, Toyota and Volvo have added the safety features.

Changes include making car hoods softer and better able to absorb the impact of a child or adult's head: adding more space between the engine and the hood; and making hood hinges collapsible. Head injuries are the cause of death in 60% of car accidents involving pedestrians, according to the Japan Automobile Research Institute.

Because many cars weigh 4,000 pounds or more,...