Study Finds Small Cars Offer Less Protection And Have The Highest Death Rates In Crashes

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released the results of a new study that says small cars are some of the deadliest vehicles on the road.

According to the organization, “15 of the 20 models with the highest death rates for model year 2017” were either small cars or minicars.

The study also found that minicars had the highest fatality rate as there were 82 deaths for per “million registered vehicle years.” That contrasts with “very large” SUVs which were the safest with a fatality rate of just 15 per million.

Also Read: Estimates Suggest A Third Successive Year Of Lower Traffic Fatalities In U.S.

Several vehicles – including the Volkswagen Golf – had a fatality rate of 0, while the Ford Fiesta was the worst with 141 fatalities per million. The now discounted model was followed by the Hyundai Accent (116), Chevrolet Sonic (98) and Nissan Versa Note (96).

Overall, 2017 model year vehicles had an average fatality rate of 36 per million. That’s up six deaths since 2014 and eight since 2011.

Photo IIHS

While it’s never good to see that number climb, IIHS spokesman Joe Young told Automotive News the “rise is consistent with the increased rate of U.S. traffic fatalities that accompanied an improved economy following the Great Recession.”

The study only looked at driver deaths and excluded some potentially influential data such as the speeds people traveled. The latter bit of information could help to explain why the Ford Mustang GT was the deadliest midsize model with 81 fatalities per million.

While no study is perfect, it does suggest that small cars can fare worse especially as crossovers, trucks and SUVs grow in popularity. As IIHS’ senior vice president of vehicle research, Joe Nolan, explained “Smaller vehicles offer less protection for the driver in crashes, and their lighter mass means that they take the brunt of collisions with larger vehicles.”

Small vehicles are also typically equipped with relatively basic safety systems. Luxury vehicles, which dominated the safest list, offer far more advanced safety features.