Tesla drivers within the U.S. had been concerned in accidents at the next price than drivers of another model of auto over the previous 12 months, in line with a brand new research of 30 automotive manufacturers by LendingTree.

The researchers analyzed quotes from folks trying to insure their very own autos, and didn’t embody accident or incident information involving drivers of rental automobiles, a spokesperson for LendingTree instructed CNBC by electronic mail on Tuesday.

The research stated, “It is laborious to nail down why sure manufacturers could have larger accident charges than others. Nonetheless, there are indications that sure kinds of autos entice riskier drivers than others.”

With 24 accidents per 1,000 drivers through the interval from mid-November 2022 to mid-November 2023, Tesla drivers clocked in with the worst accident price within the U.S., adopted by Ram drivers who had been concerned in about 23 accidents, and Subaru drivers who had been concerned in about 21 accidents per 1,000 drivers through the 12 months.

Against this, drivers of Pontiac, Mercury and Saturn autos had been all concerned in fewer than 10 accidents per 1,000 drivers through the interval of the research.

BMW drivers had been the most definitely to interact in driving underneath the affect, the researchers discovered. They had been concerned in about 3 DUIs per 1,000 drivers in a 12 months, about twice the speed of DUIs amongst Ram drivers, who had been the second worst drivers on this regard.

For driving incidents general, which included not solely accidents but in addition DUIs, dashing, and different citations, Ram drivers had the best incident price, whereas Tesla drivers had the second-highest incident price within the U.S.

Accidents, DUIs, dashing and different citations can all result in larger insurance coverage charges for drivers. Lending Tree discovered that one dashing ticket can bump up the value of auto insurance coverage by 10% to twenty%, accidents can enhance charges by round 40%, whereas DUIs can result in a price enhance of 60% or extra.

The Lending Tree findings about drivers with the best charges of accidents and incidents by car model adopted an Autopilot software program recall by Tesla within the U.S. that impacts some 2 million of the corporate’s electrical autos.

Tesla EVs come normal with a complicated driver help system (ADAS) marketed as Autopilot. The corporate sells extra intensive driver help packages known as Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (or FSD) choices within the U.S. as properly. Those that pay for FSD can even check software program options that aren’t absolutely debugged but on public roads.

Tesla’s ADAS expertise is supposed to assist drivers with steering, acceleration and braking. CEO Elon Musk claimed in 2021 {that a} Tesla driver utilizing Autopilot was about 10 occasions much less prone to crash than a driver of the typical automobile. Whereas Tesla publishes its personal security stories, the corporate has not allowed third-party researchers to judge their information to verify or debunk such claims.

Musk has additionally touted Tesla’s programs as if they’re already, or will quickly be, protected to make use of hands-free — but Autopilot and Full Self-Driving programs nonetheless require Tesla drivers to stay attentive to the highway and able to steer or brake in response always.

A two-year investigation by the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (or NHTSA) discovered that Tesla’s Autosteer function, which is a part of Autopilot and FSD, had security defects that will trigger an “elevated threat of a collision.” NHTSA stated it discovered that Tesla drivers can too simply misuse the automobiles’ Autosteer function and should not even know whether or not it’s engaged or switched off.

In keeping with filings with the federal car security regulator, Tesla didn’t concur with NHTSA’s findings however agreed to conduct a voluntary software program recall, and promised to make security enhancements to Autosteer with “over-the-air” updates. The up to date software program will nag drivers to concentrate to the highway extra typically, and lock drivers out of utilizing Autopilot if Tesla’s programs detect irresponsible use.

Tesla didn’t reply to a request for remark in regards to the Lending Tree research and why the accident and incident charges could have been so excessive amongst Tesla drivers within the U.S. over the previous 12 months.

Learn the total Lending Tree research of the most effective and worst drivers within the U.S. by auto model, right here.