Teslas Are Involved in More Fatal Accidents Than Any Other Brand, Study Finds
Elon Musk has sought to portray Tesla’s vehicles as the “safest cars on the road.” However, a new analysis of federal data purports to show that Musk’s company actually has the highest rate of involvement with fatal accidents of any car brand.
The analysis, which was put together by automotive search engine iSeeCars, cites fatality statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) to claim that Tesla has “the highest fatal accident rate by brand, followed by Kia, Buick, Dodge, and Hyundai.”
The report further notes: “As with the model rankings, it’s possible these high fatal accident rates reflect driver behavior as much or more than vehicle design.” In other words, Teslas may not have any particular features that make them more dangerous. It may be that drivers of Teslas are just more prone to crashing or being involved in crashes.
“The biggest contributor to occupant safety is avoiding a crash, and the biggest factor in crash avoidance is driver behavior,” said Karl Brauer, iSeeCars Executive Analyst. “A focused, alert driver, traveling at a legal or prudent speed, without being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, is the most likely to arrive safely regardless of the vehicle they’re driving.”
