Every year, thousands of fatal car accidents are documented in the United States. In 2023, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) analyzed crash data to determine the highest driver death rates by the type of vehicle involved in the crash. The data found that the deadliest vehicles for their own drivers are small, lightweight cars, while the deadliest vehicles for other drivers are large pickup trucks and muscle cars.
10 Deadliest Cars for All Road Users in 2023
This is the first year the IIHS calculated the most dangerous vehicle models according to the total number of people killed in crashes with them – not just the death toll of the drivers of the vehicles themselves. IIHS calculated an estimated number of deaths per million registered vehicle years for 2020 models and 2018-2021 equivalents to create its list of the deadliest cars on the road.
According to the data, the top 10 deadliest vehicles in terms of other-driver deaths in 2023 were:
- Ram 3500 Crew Cab long bed 4WD: 189
- Dodge Charger HEMI 2WD: 164
- Ford F-350 Crew Cab 4WD: 147
- Ram 2500 Mega Cab 4WD: 145
- Kia Optima: 134
- Kia Rio sedan: 133
- Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed 4WD: 122
- Ford F-250 Crew Cab 4WD: 120
- Dodge Charger 2WD: 105
- Ram 1500 Crew Cab short bed 2WD: 104
The majority of these vehicles are very large or large pickup trucks. These vehicles inflict more damage in accidents due to their heavier weights, which result in greater crash forces exerted upon smaller cars in accidents. However, some of the deadliest vehicles for other drivers were mid-size cars and even minicars.
10 Deadliest Cars for Their Drivers in 2023
As it has in previous years, the IIHS also calculated the 10 deadliest motor vehicles in 2023 in terms of the number of drivers killed while operating these vehicles.
The data found the following to be the 10 deadliest vehicles for their own drivers:
- Mitsubishi Mirage G4: 205
- Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback: 183
- Dodge Challenger 2WD: 154
- Hyundai Accent: 152
- Chevrolet Spark: 151
- Kia Rio sedan: 122
- Dodge Charger HEMI 2WD: 118
- Chevrolet Camaro convertible: 113
- Nissan Altima: 113
- Kia Forte: 111
In general, newer vehicles are safer than older ones due to advances in motor vehicle safety technology. However, injury risk still depends in large part on the size and type of car.
What Types of Motor Vehicles Are the Most Dangerous?
Crash data processed by IIHS found that the deadliest cars on the road for others included large or very large pickups and mid-size SUVs – two types of vehicles that are not classed as dangerous for protecting their own drivers. However, they made the list due to the risks they pose to others.
Muscle cars also ranked among the most dangerous vehicles when it came to other-driver deaths. This suggests that drivers of muscle cars tend to drive more aggressively, which increases the odds of fatal car accidents taking place.
The remaining deadliest vehicles, including the number one deadliest car in 2023, are minicars and small cars. This does not come as a surprise, as small and lightweight vehicles are known to offer less protection than larger cars.
What Are the Safest Cars on the Road in 2023?
In addition to determining the deadliest cars on the road in 2023, IIHS also calculated the safest motor vehicles based on driver death rate.
The top 10 safest vehicles in 2023 were:
- BMW X3 4WD: 0
- Lexus ES 350: 0
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan 4WD: 0
- Nissan Pathfinder 2WD: 0
- Audi Q5 4WD: 2
- Toyota C-HR: 2
- Nissan Murano 2WD: 4
- Volvo XC90 4WD: 4
- GMC Canyon Crew Cab: 5
- Lexus RX 350 4WD: 5
The majority of the vehicles on the “safest car” list were mid-size luxury SUVs and mid-size luxury cars.
If you get hurt in a car accident in San Antonio in any type of vehicle, discuss your legal rights and options with a San Antonio car accident attorney at Hill Law Firm at no cost or obligation. Contact us for a free consultation.