Toronto, Ontario — According to a new study from iSeeCars, the fatal accident rate in the United States is now 2.8 per billion miles, and the Hyundai Venue is now the car with the highest fatal accident rate, while Tesla has the highest fatal accident rate of all brands.
The study specifically analyzed fatality data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) of model year 2018 to 2022 vehicles with car crashes that resulted in at least one occupant fatality, to identify the most dangerous vehicles on North American roads today.
Additionally, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the last five years have seen a higher rate of accidents and fatalities on American’s roads than the previous 12 years.
As a result, iSeeCars identified vehicle models with a fatal accident rate at least two times higher than the average vehicle, with the five deadliest vehicles over four times the average.
Of the top 23 vehicles to make the list, the Hyundai Venue, Chevy Corvette and Mitsubishi Mirage are the three deadliest cars on American roads. Following this, the Porsche 911, Honda CR-V Hybrid, Tesla Model Y, Mitsubishi Mirage G4, Buick Encore, Kia Forte and Buick Envision round out the top 10 deadliest vehicles, with fatal accident rates between 2.8 and 4.9 times the average.
When looking at the list as a whole, small cars and performance cars rank prominently on the list, along with higher-profile SUVs that may have an increased chance of a rollover accident compared to lower-profile vehicles, said the study.
Karl Brauer, iSeeCars executive analyst commented that “new cars are safer than they’ve ever been. Between advanced chassis design, driver assist technology and an array of airbags surrounding the driver, today’s car models provide excellent occupant protection. But these safety features are being countered by distracted driving and higher rates of speed, leading to rising accident and death rates in recent years.”
Brauer continued that “most of these vehicles received excellent safety ratings, performing well in crash tests at the IIHS and NHTSA, so it’s not a vehicle design issue. The models on this list likely reflect a combination of driver behaviour and driving conditions, leading to increased crashes and fatalities.”
To see the full report, click here.
