A recently conducted study by LendingTree reveals that Tesla Inc. drivers have the highest number of accidents, while BMW drivers have the highest incidence of DUIs in the U.S in the past year. The research studied 30 car brands and showed worrying trends among Tesla and BMW drivers. Tesla drivers had the highest accident rate, with 24 accidents per 1,000 drivers from mid-November 2022 to the same month in 2023. Ram and Subaru drivers followed. In contrast, Pontiac, Mercury, and Saturn drivers had less than 10 accidents per 1,000 drivers in the same period.
BMW drivers were most likely to commit DUI violations, encapsulating about 3 DUIs per 1,000 drivers annually. This rate is nearly double that of Ram drivers, who were second in this category. Taking into account accidents, DUIs, speeding, and other citations, Ram drivers had the most overall incidents, closely followed by Tesla drivers.
These events can significantly affect insurance rates. For example, a single speeding ticket can increase the cost of car insurance by 10% to 20%. Accidents can see it rise by around 40%, and DUIs can see it go up by 60% or more.
The study’s results coincide with Tesla’s recent recall of almost two million electric vehicles in the U.S due to concerns about its Autopilot software. Significantly, Tesla has been experiencing several litigations and controversies over its Autopilot system, with arguments that the company deceived customers about the capabilities of the technology and did not deliver on its promises. The recall comes on the heels of a steep rise in user complaints about the Model Y/3 forward collision system in 2021. Many believe the recall is not enough and demand more investigation into Tesla’s safety practices.
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