Our study shows the link between income and car crash risk, and how Missouri and the wider U.S. can lower accident numbers
U.S. roads are extremely dangerous: we analyzed data from NHTSA and found that 40,990 people died in motor vehicle accidents, well over a hundred a day in 2023.
In Missouri, there were 991 car crash fatalities of which Kansas City reported 102. Of those 991 fatalities, we found that the Missouri State Highway Patrol recorded 528 accidents involving pickups or SUVs – 53%.
But outside of pickups and SUVs, what other types of vehicles are responsible for road accidents? Our analysis reveals a growing connection between high-end luxury vehicles and crash involvement.
Not only are pickups and SUVs dominating Missouri’s roads, but they’re joined by luxury brands that are becoming increasingly linked to higher accident rates nationwide.
While Missouri’s most driven vehicles are pickups and SUVs — like the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, and Toyota RAV4, our national analysis shows that luxury vehicles are also commonly involved in accidents.
Though these luxury brands may not top Missouri’s most-purchased list, the behavioral patterns associated with both groups are similar: higher-cost vehicles often correlate with more reckless driving.
Pickups and SUVs, particularly in Missouri, have been tied to over half of all crash fatalities, while luxury vehicles nationally account for 40% of the top accident-involved brands. This overlap suggests that regardless of whether it’s a high-end luxury car or a powerful pickup truck, certain vehicle types tend to attract or enable riskier driving behaviors, behaviors reflected in both state and national crash statistics.
Missouri’s Vehicle Trends & Affordability Gap
The most popular vehicles in Missouri are pickups and compact SUVs — namely the Ford F-150 (median price: $59,000), Chevrolet Silverado ($50,000), and Toyota RAV4 ($33,000). These prices are in line with the U.S. average for a new vehicle ($47,010) but fall below the average luxury vehicle cost of $62,523.
For context, the national median household income in 2023 was $80,610. Missouri’s average median household income for the same period was slightly lower at $68,920, with Kansas City under that at $67,449.
Experts recommend spending no more than 10% of your income on a vehicle. We’ve found that as vehicle prices increase, so does the likelihood of risky driving behavior.
Drivers Of More Expensive Cars Are Generally More Dangerous
Luxury cars aren’t just costly, they also seem to correlate with aggressive or distracted driving. Take Tesla, for example, one of the most popular and priciest vehicles on the road, with an average price tag of $73,000. The brand is also one of the most involved in accidents throughout the country. Other premium brand averages:
- Mercedes: $77,000
- BMW: $50,000
- Audi: $70,000
There’s a further link between income and car crash risk. We discovered that the cost of a driver’s car significantly changes how likely the driver is to yield to a pedestrian.
For each $1000 in increasing car value, the odds of its driver yielding decreased by 3%. That’s a striking connection between vehicle cost and disregard for safety.
A Clear Correlation Between Specific Vehicles And Accident Rates
Our analysis shows that, of the top ten cars involved in accidents on US roads, Tesla topped the list, followed by the Ram pickup. BMW, Audi, and Infiniti are also all featured on the list, which means that 40% of the top ten vehicles involved in accidents are expensive or luxury brands.
We compiled a list of the ten luxury brand vehicles involved in the most accidents on U.S. roads.
- 1. Tesla → 36.94 accidents per 1,000 drivers
- 2. Audi → 32.23 accidents per 1,000 drivers
- 3. BMW → 30.43 accidents per 1,000 drivers
- 4. Infiniti → 29.37 accidents per 1,000 drivers
- 5. Lexus → 28.67 accidents per 1,000 drivers
- 6. Acura → 28.44 accidents per 1,000 drivers
- 7. Mercedes-Benz → 26.39 accidents per 1,000 drivers
- 8. Volvo → 26.35 accidents per 1,000 drivers
- 9. Land Rover → 25.97 accidents per 1,000 drivers
- 10. Lincoln → 21.59 accidents per 1,000 drivers
Despite its crash statistics, Tesla consistently scores highly during safety checks. And when we compare American and European vehicle safety ratings, there’s very little difference.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) ranked one Tesla model among its “Top Safety Picks” for 2023 but affords the same commendation to Mercedes, Audi, BMW, and Infiniti models.
Our analysis shows safety features are being overshadowed by driver behavior, especially when it comes to speeding and distracted driving.
Reckless Driving in Missouri: What The Numbers Show
As the above table shows, of Missouri’s 991 crash fatalities, 53% are due to speeding, 17% are due to alcohol, and 10% are because of distracted drivers.
That’s a lot of reckless driving and, in some aspects, is exceeding the national averages. Speeding and other aggressive driving behaviors remain the primary concern, causing over half the fatalities.
In Missouri, many of these fatalities involve pickups and SUVs, which not only make up a large share of vehicles on the road but also come with large price tags, often $50,000 or more.
These higher-cost vehicles are leading the crash rankings in the state. Nationally, however, it’s luxury vehicles like Teslas, Audis, and BMWs that dominate the accident data. The commonality here is that expensive vehicles, whether trucks, SUVs, or luxury brands, are increasingly associated with riskier, more aggressive driving behaviors.
In terms of crash locations, we found Kansas City’s ten most dangerous roads in 2023, including the number of fatalities that occurred.
- I-435 (26)
- Truman Road (12)
- U.S. 71 (11
- I-70 (11)
- Prospect Avenue (9)
- Ward Parkway (8)
- Troost Avenue (7)
- Independence Avenue (6)
- Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard (4)
- 31st Street (4)
Lowering Crash Risks
We think several things can be done to lower crash risks. To reduce crash risks and save lives, we recommend:
- Stronger seatbelt enforcement, addressing the 63% of fatalities involving unbelted passengers
- Targeted safety campaigns for SUV and pickup drivers to reduce speeding and rollover risks
- Improved road infrastructure, especially in rural and high-fatality areas
- Incentives for safer car purchases, such as subsidies for used vehicles with advanced safety tech
Our analysis draws a clear line between vehicle cost and dangerous driving behavior. Whether it’s Missouri’s powerful pickups and SUVs or the luxury vehicles dominating national crash statistics, expensive cars are consistently linked to higher rates of speeding, distraction, and aggression on the road.
While these vehicles often come equipped with advanced safety features, they can’t offset the human behaviors behind the wheel. The more a vehicle costs, the more likely its driver is to take risks, a trend we see reflected in both state and national fatality data.
The data is sobering but not irreversible. We believe meaningful changes in driver behavior, vehicle choice, infrastructure, and policy can lead to safer roads for everyone.
At Kevin McManus Law, we’re committed to helping victims of reckless driving get the justice they deserve and to making Missouri roads safer for everyone.
