According to a new report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drivers might be more likely to survive a car crash if they are driving a certain style of vehicle. The report examined driver fatalities on United States roadways between 2012 and 2015, and found that smaller cars had the highest death rates.
Simple physics dictates that when two objects collide the object that is smaller in size will experience the greatest damage. This places drivers of small cars at an increased risk of sustaining severe injuries in a crash.
According to the report, among vehicle categories, 4-door mini-cars have the highest overall death rate of 87, while 4-wheel-drive large luxury SUVs have the lowest with 6. The study findings support data previously established in crash tests that larger vehicles tend to be more protective.
How Deadly Are Kentucky Highways Compared to Other States?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that Kentucky ranks as one of the deadliest driving states with a ratio in 2015 of 17.2 deaths per 100,000 population individuals. That same year, 43 percent of crash deaths involved occupants of smaller passenger cars, not pickup trucks and SUVs.
Fatal car accidents in Kentucky occurred most often in rural areas, accounting for 78 percent of the total in 2015. This is likely because much of the state is considered rural, but car accidents on rural roadways are further from hospitals, resulting in a greater amount of time between a crash and the medical attention that is needed. A driver of a small vehicle involved in a car crash on a rural Kentucky roadway is at a very high risk of suffering a devastating consequence.
Former Kentucky governor Steve Beshear said, “Injury and death on our highways can be dramatically reduced if everyone will be alert, observe speed limits, never drink and drive, and always buckle up. By following these few common sense rules, we can make our roadways safer for all Kentuckians.”
If you or someone you love has been involved in a deadly or devastating car crash on Kentucky roadways, a Paducah car accident lawyer can help. Daryl T. Dixon Law is dedicated to fighting for car accident victims and making Kentucky roadways safe for drivers of all vehicles. Contact our experienced legal team today for a free, no-obligation consultation of your case.
