Teslas fascinate as much as they worry. If Elon Musk’s brand revolutionizes the automobile industry with its technological innovations, a new study conducted by iSeeCars throws a wrench into the pond. The data analyzed by this site specializing in automobiles shows an alarming rate of fatal accidents for Tesla vehicles, far exceeding the US national average.
Figures that send shivers down your spine
The statistics speak for themselves: Tesla records 5.6 fatal accidents per billion miles traveled, twice as many as the national average of 2.8. This study, based on official data from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), focused on vehicles produced between 2018 and 2022. In this grim ranking, Tesla is slightly ahead of Kia (5.5 fatal accidents) and more clearly ahead of Buick, Dodge and Hyundai.
The touchscreen interface and Autopilot in question
How can we explain these worrying statistics? Experts point to several factors. First of all, the omnipresence of touch screens in the passenger compartment. Tesla made the radical choice to remove almost all physical buttons in favor of a large central touchscreen interface. The latter controls the majority of vehicle functions, from windshield wipers to air conditioning. A configuration that forces drivers to take their eyes off the road more frequently.
The other critical point concerns Autopilot and mode “Full Self-Driving”. These driving assistance technologies, despite their misleading name, do not make the car fully autonomous. However, many drivers overestimate their abilities, encouraged by sometimes ambiguous communication from Tesla. This overconfidence can lead to a fatal laxity of attention.
A disturbing technological paradox
The most surprising thing about these results remains the contrast between the excellent scores obtained by Tesla in crash tests and this excess mortality on the roads. Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars, points out that the problem is not vehicle design, but driver behavior. Cars have never been safer technically, but these advances are being offset by distracted driving and excessive speeds.
The Model Y perfectly illustrates this paradox. Tesla’s electric SUV ranks sixth among the deadliest individual models, even though it features the latest safety innovations. A situation which raises questions about the balance between technological innovation and road safety.
- Tesla has a fatal accident rate twice the US national average
- The touchscreen interface and overconfidence in Autopilot are singled out
- The excellent crash test scores contrast with this high mortality on the roads
