Which cars are deadliest?
Vložit
- čas přidán 3. 08. 2023
- The latest driver death rates calculations from IIHS show the dangers of muscle cars in addition to the minicars and small cars that usually dominate the list. IIHS VP of Statistical Services Chuck Farmer discusses the recently released data and why IIHS looked also at other-driver death rates for the first time.
Learn more about these calculations: go.iihs.org/news-death-rates
Driver death rates by make and model: go.iihs.org/DDR
Subscribe: go.iihs.org/subscribe
View Our Website: www.iihs.org/
Follow us:
Twitter: / iihs_autosafety
Facebook: / iihs.org
Instagram: go.iihs.org/instagram
LinkedIn: go.iihs.org/linkedin - Auta a dopravní prostředky
I think the main factor in driver deaths in smaller cars is the fact that everyone's driving what can be the equivalent in size and weight to a small school bus.
Vehicles should be progressively and heavily taxed based on weight since they do all the damage to roads / in accidents.
No, it's just that they're death traps without a lot of reinforcement.
@@rustyshackle917Thank you. I think it’s more fair than a mileage tax as 20 miles in a Miata probably doesn’t do as much damage as 15 miles in a hummer or big rig.
@@rustyshackle917honestly if current gas prices aren’t discouraging people nothing money wise will.
@@rustyshackle917 Dear logic-quest. Peoples cars and light trucks are way less heavy than big commercial semi-trucks. And, since the semi-trucks drive on the roads without the roads disintegrating in a short period of time. Cars are of little influence on the condition of roads. In other words, all road damage comes from big trucks and weather conditions.
I would love to see crash tests that are more like what you'd see in my corner of the world, like a Honda Civic vs. a Ford F250 modified with a lift kit and wheel spacers.
Type of accidents that occur in my area all the time...
are the lift and spacers on the truck or the Civic? haha
@@ewicky The truck. For the Civic, remove the springs and stance the wheels so it 8mm off the ground then give it an ugly paint job and an annoying fart-box exhaust.
Just look up, “Marauder Top Gear,” there’s a parking lot scene that pretty much tells you what happens.
Best case scenario is the lifted truck rolls multiple times killing the driver.
I know it's not an easy thing to metric, but the AHF (a**hole factor) is really important -- certain dangerous, irresponsible types of drivers are attracted to certain dangerous, irresponsible types of cars. And some of these figures seem to support what we all have witnessed plenty.
Look at coupe bmw 3 series compared to the wagon….. all have the same structure. One has a high death rate, the other has almost none
Yeah those mitsubishi mirage and suzuki swift owners are real hell on wheels with their 0-60s in the double digits
Toyota Prado drivers think they own the roads in my country. Total disregard for other's people lives. The funny thing is that Land Cruisers just calmly cruise...but the Prado bunch are animals
Especially now that "teens" (not teens) have discovered Chargers and Challengers.
@@sunnohh Yeah, but they'll pull out right in front of someone and get creamed
The reason why death rates are so high now compared to 10 years ago is because compact and midsize sedans, combined with compact SUV's were the best sellers at the time... yet all were 500 pounds or less within each other, not affecting the crash severity too much.
This disparity is going to increase too as more vehicles become EVs with heavy batteries. One of the more extreme examples is a Rivian R1T vs a Honda Civic (The Rivian is more than twice as heavy as the Civic).
if you look at the stats for the EU countries, deaths have been steadily declining. This is purely a NA and more specifically a big suv/truck issue.
The most dangerous 'cars' are those big SUVs/crossovers and trucks considering their dimensions, weights, bumper height, and visibility, which has more blindspots than a regular car despite having a better forward visibility thanks to their higher ride height.
They're also far less safe in crashes with comparable vehicles or into non-vehicle obstacles, especially the larger body on frame ones. The incredibly tough frame does wonders to help you tow or haul heavy loads, but is a hazard to the occupants in a crash.
No. The most dangerous cars are the ones with humans at the controls.
Some of the deaths involve SUV's/crossovers and trucks. ALL of the deaths involve a human at the controls.
@@Agnemonslmfao, and self driving cars are any better? Show me one actually flawless success of one, please I will wait
Any car is a lethal weapon with a numbskull behind the wheel, even the smallest cars can take out multiple people if driven without the matching skills.
Not to mention that they often provide a false sense of security as well, so that could make them more likely to crash
A family of 9 was killed by a guy driving a Dodge challenger at 120+ who blew through a red light and hit the minivan with the 9 people onboard. 2 adults and 6 children were killed instantly by the driver of the dodge.
I feel like the increase in deaths in recent years is that there is _no visibility_ when driving in traffic anymore. In the past, most people drove cars of a normal height _without_ tinted windows. Now it's a rat race to see who can make the tallest box on four wheels and who can make the darkest windows.
On the rare occasion that I find myself driving behind a vehicle that's 20+ years old, it's so refreshing to be able to look _through_ the car's windows at what lies ahead. Then I can see what's coming up instead of just having to blindly rely on the reaction of the driver I'm following (and then add my reaction time onto that). And not only can I see what's going on in the distance when behind a rational car, I can also see what _that_ driver is doing inside their car to tell if they are paying attention or about to do something stupid.
I really wish they'd pass some visibility laws where windows can't be over a certain height and can't be tinted. I know Americans like big vehicles, but you can do big without being a jerkoff. My car is a 5,000-pound sedan. It has huge, un-tinted windows, that are low enough to see through. It's not hard to make a vehicle that is big _and_ safe to those around you.
Fun fact, Fiat's (now Stellantis') Pacifica comes with factory tint so dark that it's actually ticketable in Massachusetts! Someone who was ticketed took it to court, lost, and was basically told to take it up with Fiat for selling an illegal vehicle!
This is such a great point
@@jblyon2 Wow, I hope that turns into a class action lawsuit. I'm glad tint that dark is not being allowed, but it does stink that the burden of fixing it is landing on the shoulders of consumers who are just trying to buy a vehicle to transport their family. I'd love to see someone cracking down on the dealerships with these vehicles.
(Also, I got a chuckle out of you calling it a Fiat Pacifica, because I also did that for all Chrysler vehicles from the "Fiat-Chrysler" era. Jeep owners especially hated having their cars called Fiats. Some of them downright didn't believe Jeep's parent company was overseas.)
@NoName-ik2du The best part is the Jeep Renegade and Compass were a re-skinned Fiat 500L!
As far as the tint goes it's never been cleared, but MA cops seem to have stopped writing tickets for it. So, it's illegal, but unenforced, yet the ticketed driver(s) still had to pay...
Agreed but there is no way your car is 5k lbs. Most likely you are confusing GVWR with curb weight like most people do.
Distraction I think is the biggest issue. We have so many people on our roads not paying attention at all, and probably shouldn't even have received a license. I watched someone back into a parking spot, EIGHT TIMES, and it was still crooked. This was last week. Also good to note, that parking space was a normal size, with cars parked fine on either side. Plenty of space.
I agree, not everyone should have a license or be allowed to drive. A few months ago, I saw someone late at night with no license plate or headlights on, driving the wrong way down a highway. But with that in mind, we need to fund alternatives like transit, and fund it well!
Bruh, parallel parking is like modern day calculus.
That type of parking use to be real hard for me but not anymore. I think it just depends on how much they try to get better.
I think a lot that is not mentioned is also driver distraction. I drove around for a living, not a trucker but I can easily drive 100 miles each day to different places. One common thing I see, people too busy on their phones, literally holding and doing things with their phones while doing 80 mph. Add to that drivers that are not as car knowledgeable as in the past. They barely get a license ride shared until they couldn’t anymore and now just don’t really know how to drive.
Forget phones... The cursed trend of making everything touch sensitive is probably an even bigger problem
You guys should be addressing the MASSIVE problem with excessive weight and size of vehicles. They might be slightly safer to the occupants but a liability to literally everyone else on the road or the sidewalk.
Ironically, safety requirements and emissions requirements are two of the biggest reasons vehicles are so heavy now.
@@ewicky I’ve heard that too. Not to mention that the standard car back when this organization began didn’t come with A/C, seat warmers, airbags, or even a am/fm radio. As it stands now, it’s impossible to buy a vehicle without a ton of gadgets and safety features. I’m not suggesting that we’re better off without those features, but they no doubt add to weight, costs of engineering, and eventually a higher cost to the consumer. Inadvertently, they’ve created a market with a high barrier of entry for most Americans, and made it ultimately more dangerous for anyone outside the vehicle.
Cars and trucks cannot be built smaller in North America due to safety standards. Trucks are huge because they HAVE to be in order to tow properly and safely. Electric vehicles are too heavy - if you're concerned about new vehicle weight ratings, complain about EVs.
@@ElegantPotatoes so for the hundred years of trucks existing, only now that they are massive; they are safe? I doubt that. People have been towing things for years, in smaller trucks with easy bed access and focus on utility, not luxury. Evs are a problem for sure, but so are heavy trucks and suvs.
And that’s my point. If the safety standards they make for trucks have little to no consideration for people outside of the vehicle, then they need to put limits in truck/suv/ev weights so they aren’t as dangerous.
@@ElegantPotatoes Oh what a load of bullshit- they frequently tow with fairly small cars in Europe, and my 1st gen 2WD Tacoma (~2800lbs curb weight, 2.4L inline 4) is rated to pull 3500lbs, and has no problems doing so safely. The predecessor Toyota Pickup was smaller, but still quite capable. You have no idea what you're talking about...
I would LOVE to see crash tests with older cars depending on their geographical location. For example, I want to see a crash test with RUST BELT VEHICLE vs SOUTHERN VEHICLE of the same model, make, and year. For those of us living in the rust belt area can’t keep our cars in the long run compared to those in southern regions.
In my opinion, part of what is referred to as "environment" has to include driver mentality. In my 55+ years of driving there is one significant factor I can report that has a lot to do with the increased death rate as it relates to on the road vehicles, but this is not just about vehicles, this is about life in general in this country - a vast increase in lawlessness, a marked disrespect for laws coupled with a huge increase in "DWD", Driving While Distracted. Also, certainly the purchase of a particular type of vehicle is an attraction for a particular type of driver. Public streets are no place to try to show your machismo, the consequences of which are all too often deadly. Drivers' licenses are handed out like candy, with many driving vehicles for which they have no appropriate skill level. Just about every time I drive, I see acts of senseless aggression and stupidity that defy common sense. It has become so common that if police were to pull people over every time they see it, they'd never finish their shifts! There is not only a distinct lack of respect for the lives of others, but a lack of even a sense of self-preservation! I enjoy performance as much as anyone, I took a racing class a few years ago. I own several performance-oriented cars. The class showed me what performance vehicles - and my skill level - are capable of in a controlled environment, NOT on a public street. I got it out of my system, I have nothing to prove driving on a public street. For those who feel the need for speed, I suggest signing up for a race class, you will enjoy it and you and everyone else will be a lot safer.
I agree and think every major town or city needs a track. I also think young drivers need emotional training via proper defensive driving classes annually
not really that's just your way of pushing the problem onto the younger generation. Shit drinking and driving at one point was acceptable. Really the major cause is increased population and traffic. More cars on the road, longer commutes and greater dependency on cars due to the lack of mass transit options.
Wrong. Peoples driving habits have become worse and worse each passing year. I see people going 10+ over all the time, running red lights, blowing past stop signs etc. There was a time when you would get pulled over for going 5mph over the speed limit. You sound like a young driver, so you have no point of reference since you weren’t driving 25-35 years ago.
@@amanasd26^^^this
the speed doesnt kill, lack of control and not going with the flow will. if everyone is going 10 over, then its not a cause for death, but if someone is going 10 over and another going 5 under meet, then the risk increases@@71CutlassS
there should be more regulation on pickups. They are extremely dangerous not only for other drivers, but even more for pedestrians and cyclists. Their visibility is absolutely abysmal since the hood is not tilted down, and their weight and height makes them a killing machine for pedestrians ran over by them.
The EPA is responsible for the increased size of pickups.
They have MPG charts which determine fuel economy and fines. It's done by the square foot of area taken up by the vehicle. The more square feet, the less fuel economy before fines are issued. That's why there's no Chevy S-10 pickup sized vehicles built even though people want them. Manufacturers can save hundreds of millions in fines by making a pickup just a little bigger.
I have a huge Ford F350. I didn't want a pickup that big but it's what's available to buy.
I'm a massive car lover, know tons about cars, and because Bandit brought up why the EPA is the cause, a solution to those problems (while possible) is unlikely. My solution is anything that is above a certain size (say like Rav4/Jeep Cherokee is the maximum size) you need a special license to drive it. A step between a regular license and a CDL. So literally any vehicle that is body on frame, like a truck, Suburban, Grand Wagoneer, things like that, you need a special license to own and drive them. I see too many little man syndrome men/oblivious women driving these vehicles, and guess what? They cause most wrecks that un-alive people. These vehicles are here to stay, but it's getting to the point people need a special license to drive them. To tack on, they have to renew it once every 2 years to make sure they are still capable to drive it
@@ezioahmet4192 I always thought, when registering, charge by the pound. My F350 weighs just over 8000 lbs. That's ridiculous.
Some people need a pickup for work (me)
Those people will pay the extra.
Raise the price until we find the charge where people will no longer want to drive them.
It may work well for all vehicles.
Why does it take 4000 lbs of metal and plastic to haul around one 130 lb woman to the store?
So inefficient.
@@TheBandit7613 It's also extremely sad how the truck beds have gotten smaller over time rather than bigger somehow lol.
I saw a Ford truck recently that I think is a super duty that was probably the same size as a small box truck. It was massive and very scary to think what would happen if that person was distracted or had a medical issue, or drove like a jerk. The truck would just continue forward and destroy everything and everyone.
Compared to Europe I don't think the superminis are too small, but in fact, their other cars are too big.
The low weight shows poor structural safety. The reasoning that other cars are big is a poor insight as there's a heap of similar or smaller vehicles.
When you mix high performance cars with low performance drivers you have a deadly combination.
Highest other driver death rate goes to large pickups and SUVs. Maybe people should start looking at smaller cars so that the maneuverability increases and the likeness of crashing goes down too
Nah, I'll keep my truck you can get a job and buy something that doesn't break in half when it hits me.
@@robertshelton3796 Tell me you're American without telling me you're american
@@robertshelton3796 “when it hits me” you can’t even see over your hood, you’d be the first to hit me with your gas guzzler
@@robertshelton3796found the troglodyte
Yeah! Lock those anti vaxxers up!!
Honestly the way people drive in the trucks and SUVs they own are the reason why I’m so afraid of highway driving. I’m tempted to start driving with a helmet and elbow/knee pads
I think that the auto companies pushing the bigger SUVs helps boost the death rate and that it is not necessary for all people to have them. Also, people who can afford the bigger SUVs and trucks buy them because they know that they’ll get creamed in a midsized sedan. The muscle cars are notorious for their accident rates. People who can only afford an old car or smaller car will automatically be at a disadvantage. So, this affects people who don’t have as much money. Also, if a pedestrian gets hit by a larger car, they get killed faster and the pedestrian death rates have increased due to this.
It's very unfortunate but a huge factor in buying newer vehicles (and people going massively into debt for them) is safety. I have a 30 year old car that runs great, but I definitely worry a bit about safety with these monstrosities on the road with driver's using their phone while driving.
How are automakers pushing bigger and bigger cars? Throughout 2010s many automakers offered smaller more affordable cars. You had tons of options. Yet customers went to bigger cars in droves. The sales of small cars were just terrible and with low profits the automakers axed them. You can blame automakers for lots of stuff. But they offered the market many options and nobody took up the offer. Let's stop pretending otherwise. They build a big suv and it's flies of the dealer lots so they build more. If people started buying smaller cars or suvs they would build more smaller cars.
People should be able to purchase any car they want…………
Mid size Sedans are among the safest vehicles in this rating. What are you talking about?
Great explanations by Mr. Farmer. I really like how he explains things and the fact that you can tell by hearing him speak that he is a person with a lot of knowledge.
I think they should start getting more serious on rear ended crashes. My mom has a Dodge Journey and sometimes my 7 year old nephew likes to sit in the third row. It would be interesting to see the results of a car going 60MPH rear end an SUV with third row passengers.
As far as i know the ford explorer even if its not a 7 seater is rated for 60MPH rear end crashes. (Similar to the ford interceptor suv's USA police use)
They can't even be bothered to do 60mph front end collisions, what makes you think they'll bother with a 60mph rear end collision? If they want to make vehicles safer, they need to be crash testing them at much higher speeds or stop caring about those that drive recklessly. 90%+ of the deaths on the road are of those with 100% preventable conditions. (Speeding, Intoxicated driver, Distracted Driver, etc.)
Driving in Indianapolis last week on I 465 tells me 100% that people are driving with impunity and that they don't care about speed limits. I had several people pass me going 90 and 100 when I was doing 70 and people just don't give a damn anymore and there are not enough cops to enforce laws. Anybody who watches any of these dash cam channels knows that.
I would like to see the IIHS really put some emphasis into horns on small cars because nobody listens to your horn unless it's really really loud and deep, like a train or truck horn. Many people have their music blasting and they don't hear anything but they will hear a truck horn. I think that could be a very, very good way of at least warning somebody that you're there.
If You think that’s bad you should take a trip to florida
Doesn't matter where you drive. People are constantly looking at their phones and there are no consequences for terrible driving.
that's just big cities for ya. I'm a trucker, sure I-465 is always bad but so is I-290/I-294 near Chicago and I-285 around Atlanta and I-90 in Cleveland and Chicago and Buffalo and I could keep going
I see many people on their cell phones all around me when driving and at stop lights! They just don’t care about their lives and other people’s lives!😮 A car is a serious machine that should be respected!
@@tr3ywitdacarz680as someone who drove in both, Indy drivers are trash. Their self centered and oblivion is definitely reflective in how they handle mergings. I’m almost convinced FL drivers get their reputation mostly due to tourists not understanding the area
Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video in addition to the underlying analysis. It really helps get the message out, and the message is really important as we have all lost too many friends and family in auto accidents.
I really worry about this trend in the USA. What is the end state? Everyone drives a tank?
Needs to be heavier taxation and regulation on the bloat of vehicles. Bigger heavier cars damage roads more, cause more carnage in crashes, burn more fuel in everyday use.
@@TheSonic10160 Most of the Muscle cars have been discontinued. I think the Mustang survives. High powered evs are sceduled to take their place. It will be interesting to see how that shakes out.
@@cornrichard The problem with EV's is that they are significantly heavier than internal combustion engines.
According to the statistics offered by IIHS, very many of the vehicles with 'Highest rates of other-driver deaths' are 'very large' pickups and 4WDs.
@@McAwesome363 batteries will be much lighter by the time they starts building ev enthusiast cars
While momentum (weight x speed) is very indicative on which vehicle will fare best, a bigger issue I believe is the disparity in height of the various vehicles. Each vehicle is designed with crumple zones to protect the occupants, but the crumple zones on a RAM truck are well above those on a Mitsubishi Mirage for instance. The RAM's crumple zone will impact the Mirages windshield rendering any protection defunct. I believe measure should be taken to force manufacturers of these oversized/high vehicles to be designed with crumple zones in line with smaller passenger cars.
Manufacturer already have made there bumpers lower. But there is only so much you can do to a vehicle designed to be capable off road
@@rangerover06scyou dont need off road. If you can go off road then your truck should be banned from paved roads
@@LivingTheDream77 What?
@@rangerover06sc off road capable vehicles shouldn’t be allowed on paved roads.
@@LivingTheDream77 pretty much every car on the market today is designed to handle some offroading, even a mitsubishi mirage could go offroad
I'd like to see the rate of deaths of vulnerable road users per each vehicle. It doesn't matter how well a vehicle protects its occupants if it has a high rate of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities.
Oh no it’s almost as if you shouldn’t be on the side of the road anyway
@@slapshotjack9806 Or heaven forbid a cyclist observe stop signs and red lights! If they want to win a Darwin Award, let 'em.
I can't agree with you on that. However I would be interested to understand why our beautiful sports cars have to be highly modified for pedestrian safety and end up being ugly, but our trucks can literally not see a pedestrian/child, etc. in front of them because the hood is so high.
@@slapshotjack9806bicycles are legally allowed to be on the road
@@timprosser1710 ah yes another one of these law breaking people on 2 wheels
Great and important work!
Could driver skill be another factor? I believe drivers aren't as engaged as they were years ago.
look at NA driving tests, if you fail them then you should never be on the road because they are so EASY to pass. Even a 10 yr old can drive an automatic gearbox and now guess how many idiots drive automatic because mAnUaL iS tOo hArD for them.
We're not allowed to discuss that. It's not the person doing the driving, it's the vehicle itself. This logic sounds awfully familiar, doesn't it?
This data is about crash statistics for the individual vehicles. I'm sure there is other data on distracted driving though.
I think that’s an issue with the driving test itself. When i did mine, all i did was just go on some 2 lane parkways, around a small town, and back into the DMV parking lot. That is *nowhere* near enough distance or time to prepare anyone to handle a place with so many places to drive and driving conditions like the US, that it’s maddening. We need harder driving tests.
The issue is when someone buys anything to impress someone else which is just sad, not marketing. The rest is lack of situational awareness or individuals who might even understand they're lost and terrified drivers, who should not drive, but seriously what options do they have?
I think we should start rate how each vehicle has its danger potential to other vehicles due to its weight
Im absolutely stunned the pathfinder has a death rate of 0 lol
Same. I just assume all Nissan drivers are a threat to the public.
Thank you for doing this research!
One very important factor to consider is how many cars were actually sold. Perhaps the BMW X3, Mercedes D Class sedan, and Lexus ES 350 have a death rate of 0 because not many people can afford those? Also, the fact that there are way more drivers on the roads each year, increases the possibility of car accident fatalities. And finally, people are getting dumber and dumber on the road each year.
There are lots of X3's and ES350's on the road
They explain at the end these vehicles meet the minimum requirement of road miles.
Exactly. It's a demographic analysis rather than something that speaks to the vehicle's safety or lack of safety. A vehicle that is driven primarily by young poor males is going to have a higher death rate than one driven by upper middle class menopausal women.
The biggest increase in deaths can very easily be pointed at distraced driving... Giant and confusing tablets glued to the dash don't help. Also, not every state requiring or enforcing hands free laws seems like such an oversight.
Thanks for posting this! It's nice to hear straight from the experts, rather than opinions of non-experts and non-researchers.
Very glad other driver death rates are being studied and factored.
Would love to see pedestrian death rates in the next round.
The problem is not the muscle cars themselves, it's the mindset of a lot of the folks driving them...racing in and out of interstate traffic at 120mph with zero regards for anyone else's safety....
Great information Thank you guys
My favorite part was it was right to point and no annoying background music to try to listen to over you guys talking.
In full agreement. More often than not in many car oriented videos the kind of loud so called background music is nothing but loud unpleasant noise.
They briefly mentioned the Corvette during the interview, but when has IIHS ever done crash testing on a Corvette? Would love to see how the C8 does in all of the IIHS tests.
Probably not too well
Utter lack of enforcement beginning in 2020 emboldens the scofflaws for sure.
I've been waiting for a video like this from the IIHS. Sort of confirmed what I already suspected. Thank you for researching this and I hope this is a wake up call for car manufacturers.
2:49 Shoutouts to the Geo Tracker / Suzuki Sidekick for beating the Corvette to the #1 spot in driver fatalities from 1990-1994 per the IIHS Status Report Vol 30 #9 (Oct 14, 1995)
I moved from an area where the aggressive drivers were mostly in Audis and large pickups, but here every third car is one of the muscle cars mentioned. I’ve considered getting one myself because they have good safety ratings. But it sounds like they are death traps as expected. I think death rates are far more influenced by the types of drivers in such models than the vehicles themselves.
Would it be possible to do the newer crash tests (small overlap and more) for older cars? It would be very interesting to see cars like the ill fated Chevrolet Venture go through the small overlap and side crash tests.
Thank you for providing your data, which has been instrumental in helping many people. It's noteworthy that while the Mitsubishi Outlander was listed as the safest small SUV, it's also one of the worst on the list. The reported death numbers are 7, 43, 55, and 67, with variations attributed to factors such as 2WD, 4WD, and Sport models. It seems logical to expect consistent crash test results regardless of the vehicle's specifications. However, it's important to acknowledge that real-world data is influenced by drivers' behavior, with 4WD typically performing better on snow compared to 2WD. (Report dated May 28, 2020)
While such data assists in making informed decisions, the challenge lies in determining whether a particular vehicle is indeed the safest or the least safe option. Moreover, conventional crash test speeds often do not accurately reflect real-world scenarios. Is it feasible to analyze real-world crash data based on specific vehicle models? Perhaps instead of merely listing driver death numbers per million registered vehicles, a more informative metric could be driver death numbers per million crashes or per 1000 crashes of this specific model.
Emphasizing a vehicle's safety features can guide consumers in making informed choices. For instance, while a Mustang may be deemed one of the safest cars, its higher death rate could be attributed to the frequency of crashes due to certain drivers' behaviors. However, if the safest driver prefers a Mustang, they could still purchase it, as long as the car itself is safe. Another potential solution could be increasing the car crash test speed to the maximum legal speed limit. Under the current test speed, almost all cars on the market appear very safe.
Once again, I appreciate your insightful analysis, which underscores the importance of both vehicle safety and responsible driving behavior.
Do they take in account age or miles driven per year?
Thank you.
Even "small" cars can be pretty heavy too, my 2021 Kia Soul S is just over 4,000 pounds. I'm not sure how such a relatively "small" car weighs so much, but at least I have a better chance against a suburban or something
I'd be interested to know how many of these fatality vehicles were stolen and/or being involved in illegal activity at the time of their fatal crashes. Some of these cars are much bigger theft targets than others.
I got a Honda Fit. I like it a lot but it will definitely be the smallest car I ever own. Upsizing from here on out. My insurance is incredibly high compared to if I got something bigger. They told me Im more likely to wreck. I am scared to hit a Camry or tree let alone a body on frame truck or SUV.
I love the 38 mpg, the handling, the space and its ornage color with the trim level and it being a face lifted model helps. I actually like not feeling the gears and it being a CVT. The size makes it sooooo easy to park. Like its so agile and flexible. But definitely dangerous.
Also saw a Toyota Corolla rear end a GMC Yukon. The Yukon was fine. Would need a new bumper however. Maybe whiplash. The Corolla was just obliterated. Small cars just aint safe. There is a place for them but their size is dangerous even hitting a stationary object is something I wouldnt test.
Let's not forget that cars like the Smart car proved that a small vehicle can protect its passengers because they were built to do so. Many modern small cars skimp on passenger safety to reduce cost.
They skimp because they weren’t built to handle being hit by heavy SUVs or pickups. Those modern cars are built on platforms that are shared with foreign vehicles that also happen to be small. Developing that model specifically for America wouldn’t be worth it if they hope to turn a profit on those said models
@@77R_ It's not that simple. Cars in Europe have gotten way bigger in the last 10-20 years than they were, and those small sub-compact sized cars that people used to get over there are just as dangerous there as they are here. There are tractor trailers all over Europe, and they're heavier there than they are in the US. The only difference that I'm aware of is that the EU forces tractor trailer manufacturers to create crash zones to match with passenger cars, so the sides of the trailers are filled in with crumple zones, and the front end of the cab has crumple zones down low where the cars are. Cheap cars are cheap cars and unless some government authority is forcing car and truck makers to make them safer, they will all save a buck to make sales down the line.
My smart car has survived several wrecks with semis. I walk away unscathed everytime ;)
If the other car has a massive crumple zone you'll survive most crashes in a Smart car. Smart vs Smart would be horrifying though.
Have you seen the head on crash test between the smart and a transport truck? Or the story of a guy from Europe who committed suicide in his smart car by driving head on into a transport truck. The police pulled him out in two pieces. One cop had his upper body, and another cop had his legs.
@@kevinW826Unless you're in an XC90 or an S-Class you aren't surviving shit when the other vehicle gets big enough and you're going fast.
And I could tell you about the sheer numbers of audi RS or BMW M drivers being retards and killing themselves in faster and more stupid ways, doesn't change how they do in a crash.
And yes, I binned my old Brabus Roadster into the front of an articulated lorry, 80mph closing speed and I walked out. For an 800kg car nothing will do better.
@@kevinW826 you'd likely die in an F-250 going head-on with a semi, that's 100mph to zero in very little time, assuming both vehicles are going 50mph. The fact that someone died isn't due to the small car, it's due to the head-on nature of the collision.
@@TheAechBomb any vehicle would be crushed and the driver killed in a head on with 50,000 plus pounds of metal.
Nissan Altimas are freaking death traps 🫣
The way the other driver death rates are high for small vehicles vs big vehicles, say the Kia Rio sedan, a mini-car, is because they run into a F250 and the F250 runs up onto it like a ramp and flips over....
interesting that the RAM is the lowest selling HD pickup out of the big 3, yet it's #1 killer on the road. The Ford/Chevy guys are gonna have a field day with this one
Especially amazing they managed to be the #1 killer considering how much time they must have spent sitting at the Fiat dealer awaiting repairs!
This 100% matches up with my empirical experiences. It's always a Dodge truck driving like a moron.
Have you *seen* how middle aged balding men drive those things?
The RAM 2500 statistically has the highest percentage of drivers with a DUI on their record - twice the national average. I think this may play in as a factor.
something like 5% of all DUI were in a RAM truck lol@@dhillaz
Weight of the vehicle has almost no impact on the lethality of the crash in single car crashes. How many of those crashes with smaller cars were single car crashes where the occupants weren’t wearing seat belts? Seat belts are the single biggest factor in survivability.
Would love to see if other driver death rates included motorcycles as well as to see pedestrian and cyclist death rates from each vehicle.
Saw some stats on this a few years ago. Dodge Ram Cargo was the most deadly against motorcycles.
As a Texan I can confirm Ram 3500 drivers operate their vehicle to cause death to other drivers 😅
I live in a rural area and there are all brands of trucks here, but Dodge trucks are without a doubt always the worst and most aggressive drivers. I don't even bother anymore with them because I know they are probably psychotic. I'll just let them pass and harass the next person.
Very interesting video. There is a good reason why the muscle cars are driven overly quickly. They are simply boring at reasonable speeds. After all, it is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. It is impossible to use even 90% of the capability in these cars.
Large vehicles have always been on the road, but in the past the heavier vehicles were often driven by professional drivers. Drivers who wouldn't want to risk their license and had some level of training. But now you can drive a 6k-7k lb. truck and have zero experience handling the extra weight/height/size. A 100 lb. woman in a Hummer EV playing with her phone could kill a lot of people in normal sized cars and she would be fine. Not saying professionals don't get distracted or do stupid things, but generally they are safer.
When I drive my smaller cars, I try to stay away from higher speed, dense traffic because I know the odds of those people in their huge pickup trucks and SUV's focusing on driving courteously is in the 1-10% range. Even then I know I can't prevent everything. I've seen idiots in pickups try to race me while I'm in my sports car, even though I am going the speed limit or a few over and not driving aggressively. These people that are out there that are on mind altering drugs or medications, or are just not mentally stable unfortunately are often the ones that buy the biggest vehicles so they can lord over others.
I think the manufacturers should take some responsibility. Nobody was ever asking for bigger trucks. There might have been a small percentage asking for higher tow capacity, but the manufacturers could have made those vehicles shorter and/or differently in order for them to be safer. Just look at the bumper/height mismatch of a new truck versus a new car. It's insanity.
The EPA regulations actually more or less force larger vehicles because the MPG regulations are based on the footprint (wheel base and track) to determine what MPG the vehicle is allowed to have. So, by ever increasing demand for better MPG manufacturers are increase size to offset the increased demand for better MPG every year.
I secretly wonder how many of those 5200-6500K bright white and bright blue headlights on Pick-Up trucks and SUVs have contributed to crashes in the past five years? I would truly love to the see the IIHS run a light reactive test to see how much those lights impare an on-coming driver in a car or compact sedan.
I keep getting sad when there's 0 data on a lot of cars that aren't exotics or something really rare. What's the death rate/crash performance of the Lincoln Navigator/Ford Expedition? Toyota Sequoia? Mercedes GLS? Tesla Model X? Porsche Cayenne? It's all a big "I don't know"
It says that if there weren't at least 20 deaths in those vehicles during that time period then the data was not included.
@@mediocreman2 yeah I'd still like some data
I believe people should pay taxes based on the size of their cars. This things are killing machines.
I was going to sell my full size truck but I think I'll keep it now.
Full size trucks aren’t that safe because they have a high change of a rollover, which is extremely deadly. Lower SUV’s and large Sedans have the lowest driver death rate.
I would be really interested to see something that analyzes death rates of new cars against used cars of previous model years. The assumption is that newer cars are safer, but how much? Is it a steady increase of safety over time or have there been any diminishing returns?
Passenger vehicle occupant death rates by vehicle type, 1978-2021 (1-3 year old vehicles): www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/passenger-vehicle-occupants#driver-death-rates
@@iihs-hldi This was exactly what I was looking for! Thanks!
Post your dream crash tests:
Why haven't they gotten around to these-
>Tesla Model X
>Ford Expedition/Lincoln Navigator
>Chevy Suburban/Escalade/Yukon
>Toyota Sequoia
>Mercedes GLS
>BMW X7
>Jeep Grand Wagoneer
>Porsche Cayenne
>Land Rover Defender
Fun:
>Ford Model T
>School bus (vs. Mitsubishi mirage)
>Jeep Wrangler with the panels off
>Stupidly lifted Ford F150 truck
>Side impact where one dummy isn't belted
>Front impact where the front passenger has his feet up on the dashboard
You should break down these numbers by region and season. I looked at the numbers for the Model 3, the RWD and AWD are given separately. The death rates for the AWD are more than twice as high as thrt rates for the RWD. The AWD is quicker than the RWD but not nearly enough to accont for the difference. The best explanation that i can think of is region specifically states with winter and those that don't have winter. In Northern states most people buy AWD cars because they are concerned about handling in the snow. In Southern states and California RWD is more popular. RWD has better hanfling on dry pavement plus its cheaper so if you aren't worried about snow its a better choice unless you need the extra range of the AWD Tesla. Id bet that if you compared summer death rates they woukd be identical but in the winter the rates in places with snow and ice would be much higher.
The deadliest?, the ones you crash..
I get it but I'd remember I had driven deathtraps that I made sure I would get into a major crash into..
would be nice to see how deadly car crashes between big vs big and small vs small when both cars have good crash ratings. When you are in a bigger car its safer to crash with smaller cars, but potentially not so when crashing with bigger cars. And with smaller cars only when you crash with smaller cars. So if everyone is getting bigger cars partially for safety reasons, it might just be as deadly as if everyone drives small cars..
The car fires and biofuel comparison to before biofuel, please do one about all the car fires we're seeing, these same cars are not bursting into flames and countries where biofuel is not sold to the public.
for the record, a solid mass of fuel can't burst into flames. when a car suddenly combusts it's because of some kind of containment issue
Interesting that the Volvo XC90, which is purported to never have a fatality, is shown as having 4 in the IIHS data. However, the confidence interval at 95% also includes the possibility of zero deaths?
Surprising to see two sedans in the zero-death category.
Who told you they never had a fatality? Let me guess, Volvo?
I thought the same thing. I've often heard that no one has ever died in a Volvo XC90.
@@penguru21 Only in the UK,. "Not a single Volvo XC90 occupant has died in a car-to-car accident in the UK, according to official Government crash figures. The statistics, provided by the police as a result of personal injury accidents on public roads, show that no XC90 driver or passenger fatalities have been reported since records began in 2004*"
If a vehicle causes too many deaths, it should never get a Iihs recommended rating
They give the ratings before they have the fatality rate data. I guess they could try to punish the next release of the vehicle by not recommending it, but that also doesn't work.
@@mediocreman2 they could us historical based on the manufacturer and class of vehicle just like cr estimates reliability for new models
Challengers are Darwin awards magnet.
I drive a Mitsubishi Mirage, although it's unsafe by modern standards, at least it's better than an old classic, plus it has forward collision mitigation.
This insight is very helpufull, Small cars are not the problem at all (like they said), but big SUV's and trucks are getting out of hand with all of their big sizes,, and the worst thing is anyone can get one, and their drivers are the worst... I think bigger cars are a stupid idea, they don't add anything to the automotive world... most of the trucks and SUV's aren't going to be used as they should and they are going to be used only in the city... They are a waste of space, resources and fuel... and I'm not even an environmentalist we have a V8 Biturbo but it's a car, not an SUV, such big cars shouldn't have to come with that amount of hp only torque. for me if a truck or car is bigger than f-150 is a waste of engineering unless you are going to carry the space shuttle then go ahead. Also what's with all that much power?? most of those cars aren't going to be used at their full potential unless some teenagers race them to kill some innocent people. Again I love my car with 550hp but we don't used that power unless we are going to run it on a track, and again is a car not an SUV. I don't like to be a party popper and I like big engines as much as anyone else but people is stupid and we need rules... TC shouldn't been allowed to be turned off unless is a real professional driver or something like that
1. Dodge Charger
2. Chevy Silverado
3. Nissan Altima
Not by crash rating but by demographic. These are the cars most likely to end up airborne or inside of a 7-11.
Death rates for vehicles are really just demographic analysis. Some cars are sold in multiple variants like 2WD and 4WD, Luxury and base models, the more expensive options always have a lower death rate. People are overthinking it when it comes to vehicle safety. A bad driver can get killed in any vehicle.
Wish we could get some of the Aptera super fans to watch this. I am tired of hearing about it’s airbag and crumble zone.
0:27 casual STI in the traffic B roll
I'm not saying they are the most visually pleasing but I've never seen a crown vic lose a fight 😂
Is the Chevrolet express commercial cargo van safe
I agree that manufacturers and promoting reckless driving, it is in many of the car commercials. I think if people want to hold gun manufacturers responsible each time a school shooting occurs, which I have never seen a TV commercials for guns or mass shootings, then auto manufacturers should be held responsible every time a multiple car accident occurs with fatalities when the driver was operating the vehicle like those seen in their commercials.
Very interesting video... I did have to laugh though at what is considered a small car in the USA. Do they sell the Toyota Iygo out there? Now that's a small car.
No Iygos or VW Polo or anything else of similar size. The smallest cars commonly found on US roads are the Nissan Versa, Kia Rio, Ford Ecosport and Chevy Trax.
You can kind of see why they are not very popular here after looking at this data. haha
I hate to bring up electic vehicles but I think we will definitely see them show up on this list in the coming years because they are so heavy, so fast and so powerful. Even the entry level electric cars that I see coming out these days have no less than 400 horsepower and have an insane amount of torque that basically anyone can have access to sports car performance at regular car prices. The ones I fear most are the electric trucks because they're the same size as internal combustion trucks but in some cases much heavier and certainly waaaaaaaay faster. Take the cyber truck for instance it can fly from 0-60 in under 3 seconds and it is so strong that in the side impact test the doors simply got slightly dented and you would probably be able to just keep driving completely unharmed like nothing happened. Now imagine that absolute tank slamming into you at almost 100mph😬
So, basically what we've known for a long time. Small cars and muscle cars are have a higher death rate. Not shocked.
I don't think the marketing entices drivers to drive at unsafe speeds; I suspect what is more likely is that these drivers want to speed and that the muscle cars are a vehicle (in both senses) to achieve this.
So many people that believe they own the road and cause the accidents. They think it is a newer car so the safety features will save them and don't care what damage they do, not realizing they are getting hurt or causing others to get hurt. Too many ignoring the responsibility that a 4000-8000 lb vehicle can kill other people. This is one area where despite my demand for freedom, it still needs higher requirements to get a license, and retesting every 10 years, and stronger penalties for driving without a license or other severe accident causing actions.
I blame people driving faster.
I drive for Dominos, and we have a “drive monitor” app he have to use. It monitors speed, acceleration, corners and braking.
It’s touchy as heck.
But I drive slow and have a 99% good score (average) for over 2 weeks.
Braking and corners got me in trouble before mostly, but I just learned to go 5 below the speed on average. Helps a lot.
You won’t believe how many people speed past me, even crossing double lanes to do so!!!
I got dinged a few points for speeding 37 in a 35 zone…..but I was laughing my head off because after 1 guy passed my little ford focus with his massive SUV a cop saw him cross the double highway line and lit him up!!!!
being a challenger owner it is down the drivers mostly...
I think smaller cars since they cheaper they driven like driver don't care same thing goes about sports cars only they are faster so drivers are reckless. Luxury cars are driven with care since they are expensive af. Including the size of the car as well
You know here are Americans speaking if the mitsubishi mirage is called "a mini car as small as it can get". Out of an European perspective that's a normal sized compact car. Half of the car's driven here are not bigger than it.
It’s interesting but not very accurate like I’ve looked at the Australian data and the older model 09-17 xc60 did really well second safest in it class and 3rd overall according to Monash units research which gathers real world crash data but iihs rated that model as quite a high death rate. obviously death rate to personal injury risk is different fundamentally but it should have some correlation it’s still good to see the newer xc60 doing well thought.
How is it not very accurate? It’s just based on crash data. It’s based in the US so the data is going to be different than it is in other countries.
@@MylesV well there is so much variance obviously and the data isn’t rated in which how the crash occurred like if your doing 200 km/h and go flying into a tree yeah you’ll die every time just about and in the 11-14 data it scored better for no reason at all yeah it good to say x amount of people die in this car but if the bmw had driver crashing at 70km/h surviving and the Volvo 100km/h dying, then their isn’t much comparison as it is inherently flawed we’re Monash uni actually go over the injury risk and the information is based off police reports and the data is adjusted based on factors like speed and what not to make it a lot more accurate that’s simply put why it isn’t very accurate in many cases.
What was the last thing that went through the bug's mind as he was hitting the windshield?
His ass!
Imagine a 5000+ lbs Lucid Air Sapphire with an acceleration of 1.89s 0-60. That car will hit 160 in the time a new Civic hits 60. That will literally be a weapon for destruction.
As for Mercedes and BMW, it's kinda hard to die in one if it's always in the shop broke down!
Your reward for not dieing of something stupid when you are young, is to be slowly be torchered to death by old age! And yes I'm taking from experience! As that is what is happening to me!
No one escapes the grim reaper, no one!
How do vehicles perform that are heavy but not necessarily large vehicles? For example EVs are heavy but not necessarily large.
I’ve been curious about this as well. I wonder if the additional weight/mass helps the occupants fare better than in an equivalently sized but lighter combustion vehicle.
@@MylesV Laws of physics dictate that the added weight will definitely benefit the occupants of the moderately-sized but heavy EV. However, bigger sizes mean you can have longer crumple zones, so there is still a perk to simply being large regardless of weight.
Another factor, though, may be unibody vs. body-on-frame vehicles. Most physically large vehicles are body-on-frame, which is considered less safe than a unibody vehicle. That said, I don't know if that statement rings true anymore. I think when studies were first being done on that, they were comparing newly designed unibodies to body-on-frame cars that were, frankly, still being built on very old platforms. Ford ran production of their last body-on-frame car platform from 1978 up until *2011* for example, so the last year the Lincoln Town Car was made, it was still riding on a chassis designed *over three decades prior* at the time. I'd imagine newer body-on-frame vehicles would be built with more safety and less indestructibleness in mind.
You should look at individual statistics on their website. For example, look at the EV's you are curious about and get the data from there. It seems the Teslas are not big but are heavy so that's a good comparison for you.
The phones. Put down the phones!
It does seem rather odd that the IIHS website doesn’t offer any information about “large SUVs” but won’t shut up about them here. I looked up GMC Yukon - no results. I looked up suburban - no results. ??
Dodge ram crew cab 2500, a popular truck here in Texas - most recent checked was 2012. 2012.
When did this video come out? Ten days ago? No fooling…
If we in North America stopped driving around unneccesarily large vehicles the death rate would go down. The vast majority of these gigantic SUV's (In some cases which have become even longer than a bloody tank.) are not fit for purpose. Nobody truly NEEDS these gigantic bowling ball vehicles. The vast majority of the owners of such vehicles don't use them 99% of the time to their capacity. People should stop wasting money on using a gigantic f250 as a soccer mom minivan, people should reconsider if they really need a 2000ft long SUV when they're the only driver 90% of the time.
You go first.
Exactly. And besides from safety, there is so much more character in smaller hatchbacks and coupes than these bloated generic crossover/SUV’s. I hope one day people will finally see the beauty in actual cars.
@@alexmichm Stop blaming the people. They are acting rationally. Blame your government and corporations for the situation.
@@andrewahern3730 they are though. it feels unsafe now adays to drive anything small, do you have kids?
@@andrewahern3730 in the context of size and weight of vehicle = safety, they are. What don't you understand?
"It's not that the vehicles are getting worse, the environment is getting worse." (at 3:54 in the video) And the driving environment is only continuing to get worse. NA needs viable alternatives to driving!
No other car tops out the "other driver mortality" rate than the Electric Vehicle. Its batteries alone weigh sometimes more than a whole compact car. Just food for thought.
I don’t think it’s the marketing that is making these cars drive fast, I think it’s the car. And a lot of the people aren’t scared enough of the speed because the cars nowadays make you feel like they’ll take care of you with lane keep assist and collision avoiding tech. People feel like they can do whatever they want in cars and the car will save them.
I drove a 1955 Studebaker last month. THAT is a car that will make you fear speed. Because the scariness hasn’t been refined out.