Tesla Model Y, equipped with FSD system. There are three front-facing lenses under the windshield near the rearview mirror.
Mark Liang | The Washington Post | Getty Images
Tesla A new study of 30 car brands shows that U.S. drivers were involved in accidents at a higher rate in the past year than drivers of any other brand of vehicle by LendingTree.
Researchers analyzed quotes from people looking to insure their vehicles, but did not include data on accidents or incidents involving rental car drivers, a LendingTree spokesperson told CNBC via email on Tuesday.
“It is difficult to determine why some brands may have higher accident rates than others. However, there are indications that certain types of vehicles attract riskier drivers than others,” the study said.
Between mid-November 2022 and mid-November 2023, Tesla drivers had 24 accidents per 1,000 drivers, ranking first in the U.S. in accident rates, followed by Memory During the year, there were approximately 23 accidents for Subaru drivers and 21 accidents for every 1,000 drivers.
In contrast, the driver pontiacDuring the study period, both Mercury and Saturn vehicles were involved in fewer than 10 accidents per 1,000 drivers.
BMW Researchers found that drivers were most likely to drink and drive. They had about three DUIs per 1,000 drivers in a year, about twice the rate of Ram drivers, who ranked second in this regard.
In terms of overall driving accidents, which includes not just accidents but DUI, speeding and other tickets, Ram drivers have the highest accident rate, while Tesla drivers have the second-highest accident rate in the U.S.
Accidents, DUI, speeding, and other tickets can all result in higher insurance rates for drivers. Lending Tree found that a speeding ticket can increase the price of vehicle insurance by 10 to 20 percent, an accident can increase premiums by about 40 percent, and a drunk driver can increase premiums by 60 percent or more.
After Tesla recalled its Autopilot software in the U.S., affecting about 2 million of the company’s electric vehicles, Lending Tree surveyed drivers with the highest rates of accidents and incidents by car brand.
Tesla electric vehicles come standard with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and are sold under the name Autopilot. The company also sells a broader suite of driver assistance packages in the U.S. called Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (or FSD) options. Those who purchase an FSD can also test software features that have not yet been fully debugged on public roads.
Tesla’s ADAS technology is designed to help drivers steer, accelerate and brake.CEO Musk Received in 2021 Tesla drivers using Autopilot are about 10 times less likely to be involved in a crash than regular car drivers. While Tesla publishes its own safety reports, the company does not allow third-party researchers to evaluate their data to confirm or debunk such claims.
Musk also touts Tesla’s systems as if they are already, or will soon be, safe for hands-free use – but Autopilot and Full Self-Driving still require Tesla drivers to maintain their attention on the road and be prepared Good steering or braking. Always respond.
A two-year investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that Tesla’s Autosteer feature (part of Autopilot and FSD) had a safety flaw that could lead to “an increased risk of crashes.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it found that Tesla drivers could easily abuse the car’s Autopilot feature and may not even know whether the feature is on or off.
Tesla disagreed with NHTSA’s findings but agreed to a voluntary software recall and promised to improve Autosteer safety through “over-the-air” updates, according to documents filed with federal vehicle safety regulators. The updated software will remind drivers to pay more attention to the road and prevent drivers from using Autopilot if Tesla’s systems detect irresponsible use.
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on the Lending Tree study and why the rate of accidents and incidents among Tesla drivers in the United States was so high over the past year.
Read more Lending tree research Here are America’s best and worst drivers by car brand.
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