Shortly after Tesla's widespread recall due to Autopilot system safety concerns, a new report has surfaced, suggesting that Tesla holds the highest accident rate among automotive brands. LendingTree, a prominent player in auto loans and mortgages, conducted an analysis focused solely on crash statistics without delving into the reasons behind these incidents.

In the period spanning from November 14, 2022, to November 14, 2023, LendingTree's findings revealed that Tesla experienced 23.54 accidents per 1,000 drivers. Only two other brands surpassed the 20 accidents per 1,000 drivers mark: Ram (22.76) and Subaru (20.90). Furthermore, Tesla ranked second in incident rates at 31.13, trailing only Ram's 32.90. Unlike accident rates, incident rates encompass additional factors such as DUIs, speeding violations, and other citations.

LendingTree's headline branding Tesla drivers as the "worst" may seem extreme. However, the report underscores a significant concern involving Tesla's Autopilot and Autosteer features. Investigations by the Department of Justice and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed instances where Autopilot disengagement resulted in 322 frontal and other collisions. The recall addressed the ease with which drivers could let Autopilot operate independently, potentially relinquishing control. Tesla has pledged to rectify this issue through an over-the-air update.

Labeling Tesla drivers as the "worst" globally might be a stretch. Yet, the report highlights a crucial issue that both the automaker and safety agencies must address.

It's essential to note that Tesla isn't the sole brand under scrutiny in the report. BMW stands out, nearly doubling the number of the second-place contender in terms of DUI incidents, signaling broader concerns across multiple automakers.

--------This article is partly excerpted from Planetizen.