A comprehensive study analyzing over 680,000 road collisions across multiple countries over the past 35 years has found that pedestrians and cyclists are 44% more likely to die if hit by an SUV or similar-sized vehicle compared to a traditional car. The risk escalates to 82% for children, underscoring the heightened danger these vehicles pose to the most vulnerable road users.

The research, conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London, compared the severity of injuries from collisions involving standard cars versus light truck vehicles, including SUVs, small vans, and pick-up trucks. The findings highlight the growing concern over the safety implications of the increasing popularity of SUVs, which are generally taller, wider, and heavier than traditional cars, and less fuel-efficient.

One of the key factors contributing to the increased risk is the design of SUVs, which feature a taller front end. This design means that in a collision, a pedestrian or cyclist is struck higher on their body—adults in the pelvis rather than the knees, and children in the head rather than lower on their body. Additionally, the blunter front end of SUVs increases the likelihood of the victim being thrown forward, potentially leading to secondary impacts or the vehicle rolling over their body.

The study's authors estimate that SUVs are involved in approximately 20% of car crashes in Europe and 45% in the US. They suggest that replacing all SUVs with standard cars could reduce pedestrian and cyclist fatalities by an estimated 8% in Europe and 17% in the US. These findings call for a reevaluation of vehicle design and road safety policies to mitigate the risks posed by the increasing dominance of SUVs on the roads.

Families of the 29 victims killed in the 1994 Chinook helicopter crash are escalating their decades-long fight for answers, preparing to deliver a petition with more than 47,000 signatures to Downing Street demanding a public inquiry. The Chinook Justice Campaign has published 110 "critical questions" they want answered about the tragedy that claimed the lives of 25 intelligence experts and four special forces crew members when the aircraft crashed on the Mull of Kintyre on June 2, 1994.

The campaign comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer rejected calls for a judge-led inquiry into the incident, prompting families to declare they will "see the UK government in court." Among those delivering the petition on Tuesday are brothers Andy and Matt Tobias from Watford, whose father John Tobias was killed in the crash. The petition delivery will be accompanied by an attempt to deliver a letter directly to the Ministry of Defence.

Central to the families' concerns are questions about mission authorization, aircraft selection, and whether those on board were properly warned of risks. The campaign has gained momentum amid revelations that key documents related to the crash have been sealed until 2094—a century after the incident occurred. David Hill, technical expert for the Chinook Justice Campaign, characterized the government's position as "a betrayal by the state of them and their loved ones."

The crash investigation has followed a contentious path over the past three decades. Initial findings blamed pilot error for the tragedy, but this conclusion was overturned in 2011. The continuing secrecy surrounding the incident has drawn criticism from campaigners who argue it "undermines trust not only in the MoD but in the government itself." As families prepare to confront the government directly, the case represents one of Britain's longest-running military accountability battles.