When we talk about car safety, the first brand that tends to come to mind is Volvo. It must be said that the brand patented the three-point seat belt as we still know it in our modern cars – this was in 1959. However in recent years, another manufacturer has made a place of choice in the hearts of those who attach great importance to safety: Tesla. You just need to go to the Euro NCAP website to see the excellent results obtained by its models. In addition to the 5 stars that many models from all brands obtain, the results are among the best in all sectors (adult and child protection, protection of outdoor users, driving aids). However, a study has shaken up all the certainties about the safety of Teslas. And even classifies the brand as “the most dangerous”!
The most dangerous cars
In this study published by iSeeCars, data from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) regarding accidents in cars dating from 2018-2022 resulting in the death of at least one occupant, 23 cars could thus be classified as being “the most dangerous”, with, for some, a fatal accident rate almost five times higher than the average. And here is the list of these five cars:
- Hyundai Venue: rate of 13.9*, 4.9 times higher than average
- Chevrolet Corvette : 13,6 – x4,8
- Mitsubishi Mirage: 13.6 – x4.8
- Porsche 911 : 13.2 – x4.6
- Honda CR-V Hybrid : 13,2 – x4,6
* rate of cars with one fatal accident/billion miles (1.6 billion km)
But then, where are the Teslas? In fact, there are two in the Top 20: in sixth position, we find the Tesla Model Y with a rate of 10.6 which is 3.7 times higher than the average. Then it’s the Model S which occupies 21st place, with a rate of 5.8, twice the average. “Most of these vehicles received excellent safety ratings and performed well in IIHS and NHTSA crash tests, so this is not a vehicle design issue.” explains Mr. Brauer, analyst for the study.
Which brand or drivers?
By digging into the study, iSeeCars goes even further by ranking the most dangerous brands. And Tesla comes in first place, with a rate of 5.6 cars having a fatal accident per billion miles. It is ahead of Kia (5.5), Buick (4.8), Dodge (4.4) and Hyundai (3.9).
Or attention?
How can we explain then that Tesla, despite its excellent crash test scores, is so involved in fatal accidents for one or more of its passengers? In reality, the answer lies more in its drivers than in the brand or its cars themselves. We are not only talking about the desire for dazzling acceleration, highlighted by some of its models (Model S Plaid and its 0 to 100 km/h in 2.1 seconds), but also about attention, as explains the analyst: “The biggest contributor to occupant safety is avoiding an accident, and the biggest factor in avoiding an accident is driver behavior.. A focused, alert driver, traveling at a legal or safe speed, and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, is most likely to arrive safely, regardless of the vehicle they are driving.”. Or when the feeling of security in a car loaded with driving aids becomes the real danger for drivers who lower their vigilance. Which is still the greatest paradox!
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