The Chevrolet Corvette sits at the center of a new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) report that raises fresh concerns about how sports cars and muscle cars are driven — and the risks they pose both to their own drivers and to others on the road.
The IIHS analysis, which examines driver death rates and other driver death rates for 2023 model year vehicles, shows a clear pattern: small cars, sports cars, and muscle cars dominate the list of vehicles with the highest fatality rates. And while the Corvette is not among the worst performers, the report’s findings place America’s sports car icon squarely inside a broader conversation about power, speed, and driver behavior.
IIHS President David Harkey didn’t mince words. “Powerful engines and marketing that attracts aggressive drivers is the issue for sports cars and muscle cars. They’re dangerous mainly because of how they’re driven.”
That statement applies directly to cars like the Chevrolet Corvette, which has long been associated with high performance, track capability, and enthusiast focused driving. The IIHS report makes clear that vehicle design is only part of the equation — the human behind the wheel matters just as much.
Across all makes and models, the average driver death rate was 37 deaths per million registration years, while the average other driver death rate was 53. The higher other driver rate reflects the fact that many crash partner vehicles are older and offer less protection.
The worst performers were:
• Kia Rio — highest driver death rate (170 per million)
• Ram 3500 crew cab long bed 4WD — highest other driver death rate (204 per million)
Sports cars and muscle cars — including the Chevrolet Camaro (88 deaths per million), Chevrolet Malibu, and Dodge Charger variants — appeared on both high-risk lists. While the Corvette was not specifically named among the highest risk models, it shares the same category characteristics: high horsepower, performance-oriented marketing, and a driver base that often seeks speed.
Here is the list of the 20 vehicles identified in the study which includes the Corvette at number 19:
The IIHS report highlights several key factors, several of which are just common sense:
- Size and weight: Small cars fare poorly in crashes with large pickups and SUVs.
- Power and speed: High output engines increase crash severity.
- Driver behavior: Sports car drivers tend to travel faster and take more risks.
- Experience and demographics: Cheaper performance cars often attract younger or less experienced drivers.
Luxury SUVs — including the BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne, and Volvo XC90 — dominated the list of vehicles with the lowest death rates, thanks to advanced safety tech, size, and more conservative driving patterns.
The IIHS findings don’t necessarily condemn the Corvette, which recorded 82 deaths per million registered vehicle years. The car’s performance potential demands responsible driving, and its safety ultimately depends on the person holding the wheel.
As Harkey put it: “Size and power matter… but a big part of how safe you are behind the wheel depends on how safely you drive.”
Source:
IIHS.org via Carpro.com
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Corvette Makes the List of Least Driven Gas Vehicles
New Study Says the Chevrolet Corvette is the 2nd Most Dangerous Car on the Road
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 ranks the 20 vehicles that lead in driver death rates and Chevrolet's Corvette makes the list.){kind=link}
I don’t see how based on the data for the 20 cars provided they came up with their conclusions.
Size and weight – may be a good conclusion since small cars lead the list
Power and Speed – none of the cars in the top dozen or so meet this criteria
Driver behavior – none of the cars in top dozen or so could be defined as sports cars
Experience and demographics – maybe base on the top of the list
I believe the data provided does NOT support the overall conclusion. I think they knew what they wanted to stress and don’t care that the data provided doesn’t support their conclusion.
Being that the Corvette was #19 out of 20 and only one point higher than a Nissan Sentra, I would have to say those numbers look pretty good to me.
A sycopath like that needs a mental evaluation and locked in a padded room. Of course it had to be a Corvette.
Mike
“Power and Speed – none of the cars in the top dozen or so meet this criteria”
Number 4 on the list is the Dodge Charger Hemi.
@Mike Early, the Charger Hemi and the Challenger are in the top 5, perhaps you missed that.
My take is to warn people to not buy a Korean car or a Nissan. As a Vette driver, #19 is not too bad.
Coming back from a baseball game last night and I thought I was in the middle of a NASCAR race. Many cars driven by “them” weaving in and out of traffic at speeds approaching 100 mph. Most of the cars were Mustangs or Chargas. A few rice burners with big wings and a big stainless muffler hanging from the bumper. Didn’t see any doggies in the back window but there was a lot with purple lights in the fender wells.
With the overweight EVs added to the mix of the behemoth SUVs and PUs that make up an enormous percentage of vehicles on the road, us CAR drivers, be it our beloved Corvette or any other CAR are at a disadvantage in multivehicle collisions.
When I’m not busy tracking my Kia Rio I’m prowling the streets looking for a Vette to take down a couple notches
From the data provided it is obvious that Asian autos are way more deadly than European autos! LOL
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