Deadliest Models Listed in Report
IIHS findings show certain categories more dangerous, some specifically for other vehicles’ drivers.

Seven of the 20 models with the highest other-driver death rates are large pickups, and another four are midsize SUVs.
IMAGE: Pexels/Kaique Rocha
Small cars and those with “muscle” images are among the deadliest models on the road, according to a report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The nonprofit group released a list of driver death rates organized by make and model that shows six of the 21 vehicles with the highest driver death rates among 2020 models are considered to be “hot rod” brands: Chevrolet Camaro, the Dodge Challenger and Charger, and Ford Mustang, IIHS said in a press release about its findings.
It said that eight other models on this year’s deadliest list are small cars.
IIHS has examined driver death rates about every three years since 1989. It sources the number of deaths from the federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System and gets registration data from IHS Markit.
The group includes only driver deaths, since all operated vehicles have drivers but not all have passengers or the same number of passengers.
“We typically find that smaller vehicles have high driver death rates because they don’t provide as much protection, especially in crashes with larger, heavier SUVs and pickups,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “The muscle cars on this list highlight that a vehicle’s image and how it is marketed can also contribute to crash risk.”
IIHS added a list this year of the best and worst models based on drivers of other vehicles killed in accidents involving them. Eighteen of the 23 vehicles with the lowest driver death rates are minivans or SUVs, and 12 are luxury vehicles, it said.
“Using that lens, the story of big and small is partially reversed,” the report said, “illustrating the danger that large vehicles pose to other road users. But three Dodge muscle cars with excessively high driver death rates also rank among the worst performers when it comes to other-driver deaths, suggesting these vehicles are driven in an aggressive manner.”
IIHS said that seven of the 20 models with the highest other-driver death rates are large pickups, and another four are midsize SUVs, which aren’t among the deadliest for their own drivers.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Industry

Kia Closes Out Summer With a Bang
Its U.S. subsidiary broke multiple records in August, in part due to a surge of demand for hybrids models.
Read More →
Indiana Dealership Changes Hands
A 30-year-old Ford dealership in Indiana has a new owner and will soon be undergoing renovations to meet manufacturer requirements.
Read More →
Texas Dealership No Longer in the Family
The Ford store, a longtime cornerstone of the Houston market, is now part of one of the fastest-growing U.S. auto groups.
Read More →
Genesis Grows California Presence
The Cardinale Automotive Group opened its third Genesis rooftop in the Golden State, Genesis of San Bruno, a stand-alone dealership serving the San Francisco Bay Area.
Read More →
August Auto Sales a Mixed Bag
An early forecast shows strong business despite consumer hurdles, and hybrids are a big piece of their affordability coping strategy.
Read More →
EV Market Humming Along
July sales show steady growth as the segment stabilizes from last year’s artificial surge following pullback of federal support.
Read More →
Auto Loan Delinquency Rates Stabilize
Auto loans are a main driver of nonmortgage consumer debt, but delinquency rates stabilized in the second quarter across all credit risk tiers.
Read More →
EV Sales Recover in Q2
The EV sales roller coaster continues as numbers show improvement, but industry experts predict a year-over-year third-quarter decline and fourth-quarter jump.
Read More →
The Cheapest Hybrids to Fuel
The powertrain is increasing in popularity, in no small part due to its fuel economy. A new report lists the most efficient hybrids on the market.
Read More →
Hybrids and SUVs Gaining Ground
The most recent Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch found that only two nonluxury brands increased in shopper consideration, buoyed by their hybrid and SUV offerings.
Read More →