The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released new data highlighting the vehicles most likely to contribute to fatalities in crashes, as well as those with the highest risk for their own occupants. The findings, based on crash data from 2021 through 2024 and focused primarily on 2023 model-year vehicles, underscore how vehicle type and design continue to influence crash outcomes.
IIHS Examines Risk to Other Drivers
The IIHS measured what it calls the “other-driver death rate,” which represents the number of deaths per million registered vehicle years among occupants of other vehicles involved in a crash—not the drivers of the vehicle being measured.
According to the institute, heavy-duty pickup trucks and muscle cars account for many of the highest rates.
Ram 3500 Tops the List
The Ram 3500 Crew Cab Long Bed recorded the highest other-driver death rate at 204 deaths per million registered vehicle years, making it the vehicle with the highest risk to occupants of other vehicles in a collision.
It was followed by two versions of the Dodge Charger, with death rates of 161 and 136, respectively, with the V8 model recording the higher figure.
Other vehicles near the top of the list include:
- Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Crew Cab – 126
- Ram 1500 – 124
- Ram 1500 – 113
- Ram 2500 – 113
The first SUV to appear in the rankings is the Cadillac XT5, which ranks 10th with an other-driver death rate of 100. The Ford F-150 SuperCrew does not appear until the 12th position.
Vehicles With the Highest Occupant Death Rates
The IIHS also ranked the vehicles with the highest death rates for their own occupants during crashes.
The Kia Rio led that list with 170 deaths per million registered vehicle years, followed closely by the Nissan Versa at 164.
Rounding out the top five were:
The Dodge Charger stands out by appearing on both lists, making it one of the vehicles with both a high occupant death rate and a high other-driver death rate.
Luxury Models Show Lower Other-Driver Death Rates
According to the IIHS, the vehicles with the lowest other-driver death rates do not share a common size but are largely concentrated among luxury brands.
The institute identified vehicles from BMW, Volvo, Mercedes, and Porsche among those with the lowest rates. The report notes that these vehicles generally feature advanced active safety technologies, suggesting those systems can influence crash outcomes.
IIHS Study Highlights Crash Safety Trends
The IIHS analysis comes as passenger vehicles continue to grow in size and weight, with electrified models contributing to higher curb weights. The institute’s latest findings provide a detailed look at how different vehicles affect both their own occupants and others involved in collisions, using data collected between 2021 and 2024.
