Tesla Mannequin Y, outfitted with FSD. Three entrance cameras are beneath the windshield close to the rearview mirror.
Mark Leung | The Washington Publish | Getty Pictures
Tesla U.S. drivers had been concerned in crashes at the next price than drivers of every other automobile model over the previous yr, in keeping with a brand new examine of 30 automobile manufacturers carried out by LendingTree.
The researchers analyzed quotes from folks seeking to insure their very own automobiles, and didn’t embody accident or incident knowledge involving rental automobile drivers, a LendingTree spokesperson informed CNBC through electronic mail on Tuesday.
“It’s troublesome to find out why some manufacturers have larger accident charges than others. Nevertheless, there may be proof that sure sorts of automobiles entice riskier drivers than others,” the examine stated.
With 24 accidents per 1,000 drivers in the course of the interval from mid-November 2022 to mid-November 2023, Tesla drivers had the worst accident price in the USA, adopted by ram Drivers who had been concerned in roughly 23 accidents, and Subaru drivers who had been concerned in roughly 21 accidents per 1,000 drivers in the course of the yr.
In distinction, my driver PontiacMercury and Saturn automobiles had been concerned in fewer than 10 accidents per 1,000 drivers in the course of the examine interval.
BMW The researchers discovered that drivers had been probably to have interaction in drunk driving. They had been concerned in about 3 DUI deaths per 1,000 drivers per yr, about twice the speed of DUI deaths amongst Ram drivers, who had been second-worst on this regard.
For driving accidents total, which included not solely accidents but additionally DUIs, dashing and different citations, Ram drivers had the best accident price, whereas Tesla drivers had the second highest accident price in the USA.
Accidents, DUIs, dashing, and different citations can lead to larger insurance coverage charges for drivers. Lending Tree discovered {that a} single dashing ticket can elevate the worth of auto insurance coverage by 10% to twenty%, accidents can enhance charges by about 40%, whereas driving beneath the affect can lead to a price enhance of 60% or extra.
Lending Tree’s findings on which drivers have the best charges of crashes and accidents by car model come on the heels of a recall of the Autopilot program by Tesla within the US that affected about 2 million of the corporate’s electrical automobiles.
Tesla EVs come customary with a complicated driver help system (ADAS) marketed as Autopilot. The corporate sells extra complete driver help packages known as Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (or FSD) choices within the US as effectively. Those that pay for FSD may also check software program options that haven’t but been absolutely debugged on public roads.
Tesla’s ADAS know-how is meant to help drivers with steering, acceleration, and braking. CEO Elon Musk Claimed in 2021 A Tesla driver utilizing Autopilot was about 10 occasions much less prone to crash than the typical automobile driver. Whereas Tesla publishes its personal security stories, the corporate has not allowed exterior researchers to guage their knowledge to substantiate or refute such claims.
Musk has additionally promoted Tesla’s programs as if they’re already protected or will quickly be protected for hands-free use — but Autopilot and Full Self-Driving programs nonetheless require Tesla drivers to stay conscious of the street and able to steer or brake. Responsive always.
A two-year Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (or NHTSA) investigation discovered that Tesla’s Autosteer characteristic, which is a part of Autopilot and FSD, had security flaws that would trigger an “elevated crash threat.” The NHTSA stated it discovered that Tesla drivers can abuse the automobiles’ Autosteer characteristic very simply and should not even know whether or not it’s on or off.
In keeping with filings with the Federal Motor Automobile Security Fee, Tesla disagreed with the NHTSA’s findings however agreed to conduct a voluntary software program recall, and promised to make security enhancements to Autosteer via “over-the-air” updates. The up to date software program will nudge drivers to concentrate to the street extra typically, and stop drivers from utilizing Autopilot if Tesla’s programs detect irresponsible use.
Tesla didn’t reply to a request for remark concerning the Lending Tree examine and why crash and crash charges have been so excessive amongst Tesla drivers in the USA over the previous yr.
Learn Lending Tree’s full examine of the most effective and worst drivers within the U.S. by automobile model, right here.
