SUVs are certain to be more deadly - they are bigger and higher, but they are replacing older cars and older cars, by dint of lack of modern safety features and

SUVs are certain to be more deadly - they are bigger and higher, but they are replacing older cars and older cars, by dint of lack of modern safety features and degraded condition, are likelier to be in an accident - so the effect of more SUVs is not obvious. Regardless, the fact is that the increase in pedestrian deaths is mostly in a few states and mostly in nighttime driving and SUVs don't explain either of those factors.