Insurance Institute announces that the Z (350) tops the most fatality list
 

The Insurance Institute announced the latest results on traffic fatalities. Overall fatalities are down with a rate of 48 deaths per million registered cars a year. The measured period was 2006 through 2009. The car with the most fatalities at 143 was the 350Z. The cars with the lowest (0 deaths per 1Million cars) included the Mercedes E class and the Armada. Next after the Z was the Nissan Titan.

No other sports car was in the 75+ deaths category. Since the 370 wasn't released until after the study period, it wasn't counted.

I figured having such a small car offered less protection, but that can't be the main reason. If it were, there would be other sports cars along side the Z. Is it the demographics of people who buy Z's? I don't know but would be interested to hear what others think.

I am sure a lot of those deaths are attributable to hooliganism. These cars, especially the 350Z (super cheap), attract a lot of it. It's just a fact of life, unfortunately!

Yeah, I'm sure a lot has to do with people driving them fast, and probably in unsafe driving conditions.

Plus, the 350 gets a lot because it's been around for a long time and is a VERY affordable sports car, which attracts younger buyers, who are generally more prone to irresponsible driving as they learn, well, to drive.

any one have any #'s on the fatalities for the 370z's from 09 onward? I'm curious.

Also, what was the star crash rating for the 350's? If it was a low ranking, then that could be partially to blame for the fatalities.... but I attribute it more to poor driving skills. High power + RWD + affordable used = tragedy.

I don't like crash ratings. It has made all cars fatter and less maneuverable. More likely to survive an accident, but less likely to brake or swerve in time to avoid one.

:iagree:

People don't realize the 350 is a lot more tail happy than the 370, most of the drivers can't drive it.

cool? :confused:
I must have missed something

I had a 350 nismo and got clipped by a semi when i was going 65..his fault. I hit a concrete wall head on and it did its job perfectly. Wasnt wearing a seatbelt or anything. Only injury was a small concussion.

I think that people who died in the Z are those clueless people who cant drive that owns a sports car.

Strongly disagree. There are way more mustang GT's of same year on the road and they cost nearly the same, and have somewhat similar power/weight and worse handling characteristics. No, I am going to blame either random fickle fate, or poor safety design. Leaning strongly toward design considering how vastly it "outscored" other models.

I do not agree!
HLDI: Insurance losses by make and model

We're number 1!!
We're number 1!!

Looks to me like the mustang GT had a lot less problems relating to medical injury than the 350Z did. I rest my case.

to be honest, who wouldn't want to go out in there Z? much cooler than death by a spider bite on your butt or falling off a ladder.

:bowrofl:

The Z isn't crash rated. The Insurance Institute doesn't test them because there aren't enough sold. Neither the 350 or 370 have been crash tested.

Wrong!
Google

:owned:

It seems that there are a couple of themes here:

The 350, in particular, is bought by inexperienced or reckless drivers. Ok, maybe that is true. However as pointed out, Mustangs are in a similar price bracket and are way safer in terms of both fatalities and insurance claims for collision, etc. So, if drivers are to blame, are we claiming that the 350 is a magnet for people prone to overdrive their skills?

The design is flawed. This is very interesting. Both the 350 and 370 are true rear wheel driven sports cars. While many complain about the VDC, it is way less aggressive than stability controls on other cars. The 370 sport (not sure about base) comes equipped with summer tires. These tires are less-than-sticky below 50 deg F and not incredible on very wet surfaces. Perhaps that contributes to the problem. I never drove a 350, but my 370 is not tail happy at all and is very difficult to drive into understeer with the VDC on. I tried hard to make it understeer when I took HPD school a couple of months ago. I had to push to 60mph before I could get it to slip. Even then, it recovered almost instantly.

Most of us have been driving 370's for a while. Nobody on this thread pointed out any obvious safety issues (at least so far). There has to be a reason for the 350 ending up as the car with the most fatalities per million registered vehicles. The 370 is certainly an improvement over the 350, but it is also smaller and more powerful. I've noticed that SUV's have a habit of trying to cross into my lane when they are right next to me. It's happened at least 5 times in the 9 months I have had my Z. Could it be that blind spot crashes on freeways is the killer? Anyone notice any consistent issues that could cause a fatal crash?

most of these crashes probably happened due to stupidity.
i suppose there is a survival of the fittest going on here... be smart drive safe.

This statistic is further proof that if the 350Z had Miata doors, it would be at the BOTTOM of the list of fatalities.

We need to start a petition, in the name of safety, to have Nissan issue a TSB/recall to install Miata doors on our 370's.

Base model comes with summer tires, too. And they're really slick in winter.

Can't ignore that the Z has terrible rear visibility and is a smaller car than the Mustang, which makes it less visible on the road.

I think the 350 was much easier to control in a drift than the 370!

majority of drivers cant drive sideways....

seattlelion, you drive a 350 and you will understand how it is easier to crash a 350. the extreme stagger and abls really make it tougher to drive sideways on the 370

:bowrofl::inoutroflpuke:

Agreed!

Did the 350 have a VDC? People talk about the 370 as a widow maker without VDC. I think it is too much car too little skill.

Yes, the 350 had VDC.

yes it did, even more aggressive vdc than the 370z actually. it just cut power very abruptly and sharply which might have led a lot of people to turn it off.

Boy Dad's on his game today with quick references, Pwnage and no nonsense responses! :)

everyone thinks there such a legend when it comes to driving!! dont know how many of you have been on a track but once you do you will quickly learn what little you know about car control at the limits and also how in a panic situation allot of mistakes take place. The moral of the story go to the track and really learn how to drive!!!

it's also has something to do with the age group that are buying up these used 350's. young guys 18 to 25 i'm guessing. and they just don't give a crap
about them self. and have no respect for what the car can do..............


someone did bring up the mustang but most of these cars are bought
by girls. at least they are in my area and they are safer drivers. jmo.

That is not always true. It always makes me cringe when people make this statement as there are plenty of 18-25 year olds who don't crash and do drive responsibly, its just the ones that crash that get more attention than the ones that don't.

I have never had an accident and am always responsible even though I'm 20.

You may have a point but your the exception to the rule

I don't know about age, but there are plenty of 18 years old driving 370. I wish I have 30K in college to buy a car

There must be an explanation to this:

1. If you have a fast car you'll probably drive faster. This means higher chance to result in a fatal accident.
2. The 350z is a very affordable car, and many times the first vehicle for some inexperienced drivers.
3. Civic, Miata and some mustangs are also cars that people would race. But half of their buyers are women or simply don't race, this lowers their fatality %.
4. Of course there are faster cars than the 350z out there, but those are generally more expensive, and people who can afford those cars are probably older, gentle drivers.

+1 rep for the use of the word "hooliganism" :tup:

I wish my parents had $30K when I was in college to buy me a car :roflpuke2: