A new study by Insurify, an online insurance comparison platform, has revealed some surprising statistics about the driving habits of different car owners. The study analyzed over 4 million insurance applications to find out which car models had the highest rates of at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and DUIs in the U.S. The results showed that Tesla drivers had the highest accident rate of any car brand, while BMW drivers had the most DUIs.
According to the study, Tesla drivers reported 101.9 at-fault accidents per 1,000 drivers, which is nearly six times higher than the national average of 17.6. This finding raises questions about the safety and reliability of Tesla’s Autopilot system, which is supposed to assist drivers with steering, braking, and lane changing. However, the system has been involved in several fatal crashes and is currently under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The NHTSA has opened probes into 41 crashes involving Tesla vehicles where automated features such as automatic emergency braking, or more extensive driver assistance system features included in Autopilot, FSD and FSD Beta were involved. The agency has also issued a recall for nearly 2 million Tesla vehicles over concerns that drivers can too easily misuse the Autosteer feature within Autopilot, which can increase the risk of collision.
Tesla has not issued any official statement on the recall or the study, but its CEO Elon Musk has defended the Autopilot system in the past, claiming that it is safer than human driving and that the media is exaggerating the negative stories. He has also touted the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, which costs an additional $12,000 and is supposed to enable the car to drive itself in most situations. However, the FSD system is still in beta testing and has shown several glitches and errors, such as swerving unexpectedly, running stop signs, and hitting emergency vehicles.
BMW drivers lead the pack in DUIs
The study also found that BMW drivers had the highest rate of DUIs among all car brands, with 22.7 DUIs per 1,000 drivers. This is more than double the national average of 10.9. The study attributed this finding to the fact that BMW is a luxury brand that appeals to drivers who enjoy speed and thrill, and who may be more likely to drink and drive.
The study also ranked the top 10 car models with the most DUIs, and found that seven of them were BMWs. The BMW 4 Series had the highest DUI rate of any car model, with 36.1 DUIs per 1,000 drivers, followed by the BMW 6 Series with 32.5, and the BMW 7 Series with 31.8. The only non-BMW models in the top 10 were the Audi A4, the Subaru WRX, and the Chevrolet Corvette.
BMW has not commented on the study, but the company has been promoting its safety features and driver assistance systems, such as the Active Driving Assistant, which includes lane departure warning, frontal collision warning, and speed limit information. The company has also been developing its own autonomous driving technology, which it plans to launch by 2025.
Other findings from the study
The study also revealed some other interesting facts about the driving behavior of different car owners, such as:
- The car model with the highest rate of speeding tickets was the Subaru Impreza, with 28.9 tickets per 1,000 drivers, followed by the Volkswagen GTI with 28.6, and the Subaru WRX with 28.3.
- The car model with the lowest rate of speeding tickets was the Buick Encore, with 3.2 tickets per 1,000 drivers, followed by the Lexus IS 300 with 3.4, and the Chevrolet Astro with 3.5.
- The car model with the lowest rate of at-fault accidents was the Ford F-150, with 6.1 accidents per 1,000 drivers, followed by the Chevrolet Silverado with 6.5, and the Toyota Tacoma with 7.3.
- The car model with the lowest rate of DUIs was the Toyota RAV4, with 4.7 DUIs per 1,000 drivers, followed by the Honda CR-V with 5.5, and the Honda Civic with 5.8.
The study also ranked the safest and most dangerous states for drivers, based on the rates of accidents, speeding tickets, and DUIs. The safest state was found to be Mississippi, while the most dangerous state was Wyoming.
The study concluded that the type of car one drives can reflect one’s personality, lifestyle, and driving habits, and that drivers should be aware of the risks and responsibilities associated with their vehicle choice. The study also recommended that drivers should always follow the traffic laws, wear seat belts, avoid distractions, and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.