Why Are Tesla Cars Involved In More Fatalities Than Any Other Auto Brand?

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I simply noticed the headline on Google Information: “Tesla Has the Highest Deadly Accident Fee of All Auto Manufacturers, Examine Finds.” Yikes. I’ve lined how protected Tesla autos are for a few years. In actual fact, it was the #1 cause why I purchased a Tesla Mannequin 3 in 2019. So, on the one hand, it was shocking to see that headline. However not likely.

We already noticed final 12 months that one of many causes Hertz was promoting off its Tesla autos and never shopping for extra was as a result of they have been extra more likely to get into accidents, after which ready for repairs/service/components took longer than common as properly. These sorts of issues add up an incredible deal while you’re managing a giant fleet of autos.

Are Tesla autos truly designed to be unsafe? No, that’s not the problem. The difficulty is that whereas Tesla was designing its automobiles to be additional protected, it was additionally always specializing in making the automobiles tremendous fast (insanely fast, ludicrously fast, plaid fast) and often hyping up how fast its automobiles have been with the intention to stimulate shopper demand.

Imagine it or not, while you’ve consumed all that hype round how fast a Tesla is, it’s straightforward to be influenced and wish to smoke automobiles off the road at a purple gentle, or simply drive like a bat out of hell. The issue is: that results in accidents, and quick accidents result in deaths. Let’s get to the surprising stats:

“Tesla’s autos have the very best deadly accident fee amongst all automotive manufacturers in America, in line with a latest iSeeCars examine that analyzed information from the U.S. Fatality Evaluation Reporting System (FARS).

“The examine was performed on mannequin 12 months 2018–2022 autos, and targeted on crashes between 2017 and 2022 that resulted in occupant fatalities. Tesla autos have a deadly crash fee of 5.6 per billion miles pushed, in line with the examine; Kia is second with a fee of 5.5, and Buick rounds out the highest three with a 4.8 fee. The typical deadly crash fee for all automobiles in the USA is 2.8 per billion automobile miles pushed.”

These are some damning stats.

Once more, I don’t assume it’s bought something to do with how protected Tesla automobiles is. They’re designed properly with security in thoughts. Nonetheless, it’s a slightly upsetting factor to seek out out that the fatality fee in a Tesla is considerably larger than in automobiles from some other model. Tesla house owners simply have to chillax a bit extra. And Tesla autos are nice for enjoyable and driving calmly and easily — that’s how I usually drive nowadays!

However in the event you’ve purchased the automotive as a result of it’s fast, likelihood is, you’re going to make use of that highly effective torque to routinely make it go fast.

Apart from that the majority apparent level, there may be additionally an opportunity that the middle touchscreen distracts an excessive amount of. I haven’t seen any analysis or stats on this, however I’ve seen anecdotal statements and experiences alongside these traces a number of instances. However it’s actually tougher to imagine that is the problem when the opposite rationalization is so clear and apparent.

No matter you’re doing on the market on the street, keep protected and drive cautiously. And if you wish to race your Tesla, take it to a race observe as soon as every week. Don’t go appearing like a race automotive driver on a traditional street. It’s not price it.