The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently reported that the latest driver death rates highlight the dangers of so-called muscle cars.
“We typically find that smaller vehicles have high driver death rates because they don’t provide as much protection, especially in crashes with larger, heavier SUVs and pickups,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “The muscle cars on this list highlight that a vehicle’s image and how it is marketed can also contribute to crash risk.”
What Are Driver Death Rates?
According to a recent survey, consumers rank safety as the second-most important factor when purchasing a vehicle, just behind fuel efficiency. While safety features can go a long way in protecting drivers, some vehicles are statistically more dangerous than others.
Driver death rates refer to the estimated number of driver deaths per 1 million registered vehicle years, with each vehicle registered for one year. These rates are adjusted based on driver age and gender and are an essential factor to consider when purchasing a car. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) releases data on driver death rates, comparing different vehicle models and years. These rates are used to determine which vehicles are safer than others and to identify areas where vehicle manufacturers need to improve safety features.
Vehicles with the Highest Driver Death Rates
The IIHS recently released data on vehicles with the highest driver death rates, and the results may surprise you. According to the data, the highest death rates occur in smaller vehicles, particularly minicars. This is because smaller vehicles typically offer less protection in crashes, especially when compared to larger SUVs and pickups. However, muscle cars also rank high on the list, with variants of the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Ford Mustang all making the top 21. The following is a list of the top ten vehicles with the highest driver death rates:
- Mitsubishi Mirage G4
- Mitsubishi Mirage Hatchback
- Dodge Challenger 2WD
- Hyundai Accent
- Chevrolet Spark
- Kia Rio Sedan
- Dodge Charger HEMI 2WD
- Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
- Nissan Altima
- Kia Forte
It’s important to note that death rates are measured statistically, and confidence intervals are provided. However, the actual values have a 95% chance of being within that range based on the institute’s analysis.
Cars With the Lowest Driver Death Rates
Nine car models are among the vehicles with the lowest driver and other-driver death rates:
- Acura MDX four-wheel-drive
- Audi Q5 four-wheel-drive
- Chevrolet Traverse four-wheel-drive
- Lexus RX 350 four-wheel-drive
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan four-wheel-drive
- Porsche Macan
- Subaru Ascent
- Toyota C-HR
- Volvo XC60 four-wheel-drive
IIHS notes that most cars on the safest car list are luxury vehicles. That’s because “crash avoidance systems and other advanced safety features are most often standard equipment on luxury vehicles — as well as the Subarus that rank among the top performers on both lists. In contrast, crash avoidance is optional on nearly all of the worst performers, many of which also fall short of a good rating in at least one IIHS crashworthiness evaluation.”
What to Do if You’re Involved in a Car Accident
Even if you take all the necessary precautions, accidents can still happen. If you’re involved in a car accident, the first thing you should do is call 911. If you or someone else is injured, seek medical attention immediately. Once everyone is safe and the necessary authorities have been notified, exchange information with the other driver(s) involved. Be sure to record their name, contact information, and insurance information.
If you were injured in a car accident, contact the Martinez Manglardi personal injury law firm at 866-730-3508 for a free consultation. Our experienced Orlando car accident attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve. Convenient locations throughout Central Florida.
