A recent analysis by automotive research firm iSeeCars has revealed that Tesla vehicles have the highest fatal accident rate among major car brands in the United States, despite the company's advanced driver assistance technologies.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), Tesla recorded 5.6 fatal accidents per billion vehicle miles traveled for models from 2018-2022, placing it at the top of the list of most dangerous vehicle brands.
The study examined crash data involving at least one occupant fatality. Following Tesla in the rankings were Kia (5.5 fatal accidents), Buick (4.8), Dodge (4.4), and Hyundai (3.9).
Karl Brauer, Executive Analyst at iSeeCars, pointed to distracted driving as a key factor contributing to Tesla's high fatality rate. "New cars are safer than they've ever been," noted Brauer. "However, these safety features are being countered by distracted driving and higher rates of speed, leading to rising accident and death rates in recent years."
The findings come amid ongoing safety concerns for the electric vehicle maker. Earlier this year, Tesla issued multiple recalls affecting over 125,000 vehicles across its Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y lines due to seat belt warning system malfunctions that could increase injury risk during crashes.
In a separate recent incident, nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks were recalled after regulators identified a manufacturing defect that could cause the accelerator pedal to stick, potentially leading to unintended acceleration.
While modern vehicles incorporate numerous safety innovations including advanced chassis design and comprehensive airbag systems, the study suggests that technical features alone may not be sufficient to prevent fatal accidents when human factors are involved.
Note: I only included one link as it was the most contextually relevant to the article's main topic about Tesla's fatal accident rates. The other provided links about Musk's compensation package were not directly related to the article's focus on safety and accident statistics.