Bigger, Faster, Deadlier: How Heavy Electric Vehicles Are Changing Road Safety in California

As electric vehicles grow heavier and faster, California faces a new road safety crisis, with experts warning that these high-powered machines could turn everyday streets into deadly hazards for pedestrians, cyclists, and smaller vehicles.

While EVs continue to dominate the automotive market, their increasing size and weight have sparked concerns among traffic safety experts. In California, where EV adoption is among the highest in the nation, these concerns are particularly pressing. While EVs are celebrated for their environmental benefits and advanced technology, their heavier frames and rapid acceleration capabilities could pose new safety challenges for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers of smaller vehicles, according to UC Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center.

Electric vehicles are significantly heavier than their gas-powered counterparts due to the massive batteries required to power them. For example:

• The gas-powered Ford F-150 weighs around 4,500 pounds, while the electric Ford F-150 Lightning tips the scales at over 6,000 pounds.
• Tesla’s Cybertruck is even heavier and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds, more than twice as fast as a traditional heavy-duty truck.

This combination of weight and speed raises concerns about the impact forces generated during collisions. California’s roads are already dangerous. While specific data on fatalities involving heavy EVs is limited, experts believe that larger, faster vehicles contribute to these alarming trends.

“When it comes to vehicle collisions, physics don’t lie — heavier vehicles generate greater force on impact, putting pedestrians, cyclists, and smaller cars at an even higher risk,” said Matt Clark, managing partner at Chain | Cohn | Clark. “As electric vehicles grow larger and faster, we must prioritize safety for everyone sharing the road.”

Automakers have historically prioritized occupant safety, often at the expense of pedestrian and cyclist safety. Larger vehicles may protect their occupants better in crashes but significantly increase risks for those outside the vehicle. A 2013 UC Berkeley study titled “Pounds That Kill” found that each additional 1,000 pounds in a striking vehicle increases the probability of fatality for those in the struck vehicle by 47%. This statistic underscores how heavier EVs could amplify the severity of crashes.

California’s infrastructure, too, may not be prepared to handle the increased weight of EVs. Guardrails and barriers are designed to withstand impacts from vehicles weighing around 5,000 pounds, these structures may fail against heavier EVs. Recent tests showed that a 7,000-pound electric pickup could push concrete barriers back by 10 feet, 50% more than lighter vehicles. Heavier vehicles also accelerate road degradation, leading to higher maintenance costs for state and local governments. And heavier EVs require longer stopping distances, increasing risks in emergencies.

While EVs offer undeniable environmental benefits, their growing size presents unique challenges for traffic safety. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach:

1. Smarter Vehicle Design: Automakers must prioritize designs that balance safety for both occupants and vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. Features such as advanced braking systems, pedestrian detection technology, and reduced acceleration capabilities could help mitigate risks.

2. Policy Changes: California policymakers should consider regulations that address vehicle weight limits or incentivize lighter EV designs, as well as implementing stricter crash-testing standards for heavier vehicles, and requiring automakers to include external safety features like pedestrian airbags.

3. Infrastructure Upgrades: To accommodate heavier EVs, California and United States governments should strengthen guardrails and other roadside barriers, improve road materials to withstand increased wear, and expand protected bike lanes and pedestrian walkways to separate vulnerable road users from high-speed traffic.

4. Public Awareness: Educating drivers about the unique challenges of operating heavier EVs is important as well. This includes understanding longer braking distances and adapting driving behaviors accordingly.

Many California cities have adopted Vision Zero programs aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities through safer road designs and lower speed limits. However, these efforts must now account for the rise of heavier EVs. Reducing speed limits in urban areas can help counteract the increased force of collisions involving heavy vehicles, and expanding enforcement measures like speed cameras can deter reckless driving behaviors exacerbated by high-performance EVs.

For drivers concerned about these evolving risks, here are some tips:

1. Drive Responsibly: Be mindful of your vehicle’s weight and braking capabilities.
2. Advocate for Safer Streets: Support local initiatives that prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety.
3. Stay Informed: Keep up with policy developments and infrastructure upgrades related to EV safety.

“The rise of heavier electric vehicles is an important reminder that innovation must go hand-in-hand with accountability,” Clark said. “Automakers have a responsibility to design safer vehicles—not just for their occupants but for everyone on the road.”

Clark added: “California has always been at the forefront of progress, but we must ensure that our push for sustainability doesn’t come at the cost of public safety.”

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If you or someone you know is injured in an accident at the fault of someone else, or injured on the job no matter whose fault it is, contact the attorneys at Chain | Cohn | Clark by calling (661) 323-4000, or fill out a free consultation form, text, or chat with us at chainlaw.com.