Driver fatalities greatly reduced
Deaths in late-model vehicles fell by more than one-third over 3 years, study finds.
WASHINGTON - The chances of a driver dying in a crash in a late-model car or light truck fell by more than a third over three years, and nine car models had zero deaths per million registered vehicles, according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Improved vehicle designs and safety technology have a lot to do with the reduced risk, but a weak economy that led to reductions in driving may also have played a role, the institute said.
The study, which examined fatalities involving 2011 model year vehicles, looked at how many driver fatalities occurred in a particular model over the course of a year of operation, expressed as a rate per million registered vehicle years. It found there was an average of 28 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years through the 2012 calendar year, down from 48 deaths for 2008 models through 2009.
When the institute looked at the issue eight years ago, there were no models with driver death rates of zero.
David Zuby, the institute's chief research officer, called it "a huge improvement," even considering the effect of a weak economy. "We know from our vehicle ratings program that crash test performance has been getting steadily better. These latest death rates provide new confirmation that real-world outcomes are improving too."
Among the improvements credited for declining death rates is the widespread adoption of electronic stability control, which has dramatically lessened the risk of rollover crashes. SUVs had some of the highest rates a decade ago due to their propensity to roll over.
The rollover death rate of 5 per million registered vehicle years for 2011 models is less than a quarter of what it was for 2004 models, and six of the nine vehicles with zero deaths were SUVs.
Side air bags and structural changes to vehicles are also helping. Automakers are engineering vehicles with stronger occupant compartments that hold up better in crashes, allowing the seat belts and air bags to do their jobs well, said Russ Rader, an institute spokesman.
Improved technologies were responsible for saving 7,700 driver lives in 2012 when compared with how cars were made in 1985.
Getting Home Alive
A study examined the death rate per million registered vehicles in the 2011 model year.
Nine vehicles with death rates of zero
Audi A4 4WD, luxury mid-size car.
Honda Odyssey, large minivan.
Kia Sorento 2WD, midsize SUV.
Lexus RX 350 4WD, luxury midsize SUV.
Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 4WD, large luxury SUV.
Subaru Legacy 4WD, 4-door midsize car.
Toyota Highlander hybrid 4WD, midsize SUV.
Toyota Sequoia 4WD, large SUV.
Volvo XC90 4WD, luxury midsize SUV.
10 highest death rates
Kia Rio, 4-door mini car, 149 deaths.
Nissan Versa, small 4-door sedan, 130 deaths.
Hyundai Accent, 4-door mini car, 120 deaths.
Chevrolet Aveo, 4-door mini car, 99 deaths.
Hyundai Accent, 2-door mini car, 86 deaths.
Chevrolet Camaro coupe, large sports car, 80 deaths.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew, 4WD large pickup truck, 79 deaths.
Honda Civic, 2-door small car, 76 deaths.
Nissan Versa hatchback, small 4-door car, 71 deaths.
Ford Focus, small 4-door car small, 70 deaths.
SOURCE: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
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