Muscle Cars and Driver Fatality Statistics
                      
Muscle Cars and Driver Fatality Statistics 
 
Thursday, November 2nd, 2023. 
According to recent data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), American muscle cars known for their 
robust horsepower and iconic hot rod aesthetics pose significant dangers on the road, not only to their own drivers but 
also to other road users. The IIHS has been periodically calculating driver death rates since 1989, and this year, for the 
first time, they've extended their analysis to evaluate the best and worst vehicle models concerning the number of 
fatalities among other drivers involved in accidents with these vehicles. 
The findings shed light on the risks associated with different vehicle types. Notably, six out of the 21 vehicles with the 
highest driver death rates for the 2020 model year belong to the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, 
and Ford Mustang families, while eight others come from the small car or minicar categories. Conversely, 18 out of 23 
vehicles with the lowest driver death rates are minivans or SUVs, and 12 of them are luxury vehicles. 
When considering the number of fatalities of other drivers in accidents with these vehicles, the dynamics change, 
highlighting the potential dangers of large vehicles to other road users. Some Dodge muscle cars, known for their high 
driver death rates, also perform poorly in terms of other-driver fatalities, suggesting aggressive driving behavior with 
these vehicles. 
 
 
Highest vs Lowest Rates 
Among the 20 vehicles with the highest other-driver death rates, seven are large or very large pickups and four more are 
midsize SUVs, which are not represented among the worst performers in terms of protecting their own drivers. Notably, 
seven of the vehicles with the highest other-driver death rates are also among the worst driver-death rates. This group 
includes the Dodge Challenger two-wheel-drive, Dodge Charger two-wheel-drive, Dodge Charger HEMI two-wheel-drive, 
Kia Forte, Kia Optima, Kia Rio sedan, and Nissan Altima. 
In contrast, the list of vehicles with the lowest other-driver death rates includes two small, two midsize, and one large 
car, along with six small and ten midsize SUVs, as well as ten luxury models. 
The IIHS statistics only consider driver deaths since all vehicles on the road have drivers, but not all have passengers or 
the same number of passengers. The data is derived from the federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System, while 
registration data comes from IHS Markit. These latest statistics are based on fatalities that occurred between 2018 and 
2021 for vehicles from the 2020 model year, as well as earlier models with similar designs and features. 
Driver death rates and safety ratings serve as complementary tools for evaluating vehicle safety, as they address 
different aspects of risk. IIHS safety ratings are helpful for comparing vehicles of the same size category but not for 
comparing small and large cars or cars and SUVs. In contrast, driver death rates can be compared across different vehicle 
classes, although they also take into account driver age and gender. 
Unsettling Numbers 
A comparison of the best and worst performers reveals that factors like crash avoidance systems and advanced safety 
features, often standard on luxury vehicles, can significantly influence these outcomes. Luxury cars with lower driver and 
other-driver death rates often offer similar or even greater horsepower than some of the muscle cars with higher fatality 
rates. The distinction may lie in the image and perception of these vehicles, with luxury cars emphasizing ease and 
comfort while muscle cars evoke associations with high performance and racing. 
Zooming out to observe broader trends, the average driver death rate for all 2020 and equivalent models increased to 
38 deaths per million registered vehicle years, compared to 36 for 2017 models. This rise coincides with a larger number 
of U.S. traffic fatalities over the studied period. Minicars had the highest driver death rates, averaging 153 deaths per 
million registered vehicle years, while very large luxury cars had the lowest rates, averaging only four deaths. 
Conversely, very large pickups had the highest other-driver death rates, averaging 121 deaths, while small sports cars 
had the fewest other-driver deaths, averaging only 11 per million registered vehicle years. 
Recap 
The variations in driver and other-driver death rates underline the importance of considering both vehicle design and 
driver behavior when assessing road safety. Ultimately, these statistics provide valuable insights into the dangers 
associated with different vehicle types and driving styles, helping drivers make more informed choices when selecting 
their next automobile. 
This other article may offer you more insights on road safety: Motorcyclist Safety A Call to Action 
 
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