I'm not sure how you got to "cars bad" when it explicitly talks about an increase from 2009, and that it's the largest increase of vehicle fatalities.

Modern cars have significantly larger blind spots than cars from 2009, which is part of what they're suggesting is the cause.

I've also seen other reports pointing out that the taller hood height is more likely to kill a pedestrian, rather than just injure them, in the case of a collision

A big part is due to the higher trucks making it not only harder to see in front if someone is crossing near you but also if you hit something it is more likely to go under the truck. The bar to get a license in the US is also ridiculously low compared to Europe.