Study Shows How Death Rates for Drivers Vary by Car Size

Luxury SUVs had the lowest death rates in the three-year study by the highway safety research organization. Small cars had the highest. //

The IIHS study, which reviewed makes, models, and vehicle categories for 147,324 driver fatalities, provides an additional data point for safety-conscious consumers shopping for cars, to complement already available crash-test data and lists of available safety equipment. Crash tests are meant to compare vehicles within a specific class, the IIHS says. The death rates over time are one way to evaluate how cars and trucks in a variety of sizes compare against each other. //

Death rates are per million registered vehicle years, as indicated.

Cars: 48
Minivans: 22
SUVs: 25
Pickup trucks: 29