Your driving behavior is much more likely to kill you than the type of car you drive, says executive analyst
Americans get into tens of thousands of fatal car crashes every year. Unfortunately, advancements in safety technology can’t prevent every deadly collision. However, even with the safest car on the road, analysts suggest that your driving behaviors are the No. 1 contributing factor in crash avoidance or disaster.
While some cars are around five times likelier to kill you than the national average, your driving behaviors can be far deadlier
Your driving behaviors are the top factor in avoiding or having a nasty crash. More so even than the type of vehicle you drive and its NHTSA or IIHS safety scores. Duh, right? Well, there’s more to it than meets the eye.
According to a recent iSeeCars study, the deadliest cars in the country are much more likely to have fatal accidents than the national average. For instance, the Hyundai Venue takes the No. 1 spot with 13.9 fatal accidents per billion vehicle miles. The overall average for all vehicles is just 2.8.
| Make and model | Fatal accidents per billion miles (as of 2024) |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Venue | 13.9 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 13.6 |
| Mitsubishi Mirage | 13.6 |
| Porsche 911 | 13.2 |
| Honda CR-V Hybrid | 13.2 |
However, the type of car you drive has less to do with your likelihood of a fatal crash than you might think. According to iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer, “The biggest contributor to occupant safety is avoiding a crash, and the biggest factor in crash avoidance is driver behavior.”
Of course, the type of vehicle you drive can alter the survivability of a wreck. “New cars are safer than they’ve ever been,” Brauer says. “Between advanced chassis design, driver assist technology, and an array of airbags surrounding the driver, today’s car models provide excellent occupant protection. But these safety features are being countered by distracted driving and higher rates of speed, leading to rising accident and death rates in recent years.”
And he’s right. The advent and mandating of safety features like seatbelts and airbags saved lives. More recently, safety technology suites with driver aids can help motorists avoid crashes altogether.
