Are cars visually threatening to pedestrians?

Abstract

Car manufacturers aim to make cars that will sell. In doing so, they shape the bodywork and trim to enhance the self-image of the driver, often through associations with speed and power. To the onlooker, the design might seem aggressive, with a hint of menace for anyone who gets in the way. This paper examines the hypothesis that aggressive design intimidates pedestrians and sends out inappropriate signals at a time when governments are encouraging people to walk rather than drive. It is based on the results of an earlier study on the impact of vehicle aesthetics on the residential street environment: was there a clash between the vehicle and its surroundings? Here, the authors focus on a different question: do pedestrians perceive the visual appearance of cars as threatening to themselves personally?