Heavy-duty pickups top the list of the deadliest vehicles for other drivers in America.

      Ram

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      The variance in vehicle size poses a significant issue on American roads, especially as passenger cars become larger and heavier, with electric models contributing to even higher curb weights. On Thursday, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released a list highlighting the most perilous vehicles to both crash in and to be struck by— a depth of analysis the organization seldom conducts but is critically important.

      IIHS refers to this metric as the "other-driver death rate," measured by the number of fatalities per million registered vehicle years—not for the occupants of the car in question, but for individuals in other vehicles involved in the collision. The research uses data from 2021 to 2024, primarily focused on 2023 model-year vehicles. Not surprisingly, heavy-duty trucks and muscle cars feature prominently at the top of this list.

      According to IIHS, the Ram 3500 Crew Cab Long Bed is the least desirable vehicle to collide with, boasting an other-driver death rate of 204 deaths per million registered years. Following closely are two Dodge Chargers, with rates of 161 and 136, respectively, the V8 variant recording a higher death toll. Next on the list are the Chevy Silverado 3500 Crew Cab (126), two Ram 1500s (124 and 113), and the Ram 2500 (113).

      The first SUV doesn’t appear until the tenth position, which is occupied by the Cadillac XT5 (100). Interestingly, the Ford pickup—the F-150 SuperCrew—only shows up in the twelfth spot.

      When we examine the vehicles deemed the most dangerous to be in during a crash, this list reaffirms several common expectations. The Kia Rio and Nissan Versa lead significantly, with death rates of 170 and 164 per million registered years, respectively. They are followed by the Chrysler 300 (132), surprisingly, and then the Dodge Charger (127) and Challenger (125). This means the Charger is uniquely noted for being both a statistically hazardous vehicle for its occupants and for increasing the likelihood of fatal incidents for other drivers involved in crashes.

      The vehicles with the lowest rates of other-driver fatalities, as noted by IIHS, do not necessarily align by size but show a clear preference for luxury brands, including BMW, Volvo, Mercedes, and Porsche. It is likely that these vehicles come equipped with the most advanced safety features, indicating that safety technology does significantly influence collision outcomes. You can view the complete results on the IIHS website.

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