State-of-the-art technology, but the numbers are shocking: Current analysis shows which car brand kills the most traffic accidents in the U.S., and why even the most modern safety systems don't always protect.
Markus Abrahamczyk/t-online
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Tesla stands for innovative technology and electric vehicles with good safety values. But a new study shows that vehicles from American manufacturers have the highest rate of fatal crashes in the United States. Tesla Model Y has been particularly affected.
Tesla with the highest accident rate
The iSeeCars platform evaluated Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data from 2017 to 2022. This indicates that, on average, 2.8 fatal passenger accidents occur for every billion miles driven in the United States. However, for Tesla cars, this value is almost twice as high as 5.6. Kia and Buick followed.
FARS, quick explanation
The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) is a database of the National Transportation Agency (NHTSA). It records and analyzes all fatal traffic crashes in the United States to identify causes and trends.
Fatal passenger accidents per billion kilometers traveled
Teslas generally perform well in crash tests. However, it can be speculated that potential interference with touch operations could lead to dangerous situations. It's not design flaws that may increase accident rates, but driver behavior.
Pure statistics show that the Hyundai Venue (compact SUV), Chevrolet Corvette (sports car) and Mitsubishi Mirage (compact sedan) are the three deadliest vehicles on American roads. Models from Porsche, Honda, Tesla, Mitsubishi, Buick and Kia rounded out the top ten.
Cars with the most frequent occupant deaths
The Model Y electric SUV has been particularly negative in Tesla's fleet. The accident rate was 10.6, almost five times higher than the average for all SUV models. The Model S also performed relatively poorly: its accident rate was 5.8, even higher than Tesla's average, but still far behind the Model Y.
Why is the accident rate so high?
Despite the alarming initial numbers, brands like Hyundai, Chevrolet and Tesla are still considered safe. “These models offer excellent safety value,” said iSeeCars analyst Karl Brauer. Brauer blames the high accident rate not on design issues but on driver behavior. “A car is only as safe as the person driving it,” he stressed.
However, Tesla's door handle mechanism has also been criticized: in some cases, occupants were unable to exit the vehicle in time after an accident. Such incidents are rare but can have fatal consequences in an emergency.
Small cars are particularly at risk
Research also shows that small and compact cars are particularly prone to fatal crashes. Their smaller size and weight make them more vulnerable in a collision with a larger vehicle such as a pickup truck.
SUVs, on the other hand, offer better protection due to their size and seating position, but according to the data, they have a higher risk of rollover.
Sources used:
The 20 best-selling electric cars in Switzerland in 2023
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The 20 best-selling electric cars in Switzerland in 2023
Rank 20: BMW i4 (658 units sold).
Source: BMW
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