New research from Kevin McManus Law has revealed a troubling pattern on Missouri’s roads and across the nation: drivers of more expensive vehicles—including pickups, SUVs, and luxury brands—are more likely to engage in risky behavior that leads to crashes and fatalities.
The Deadly Reality on U.S. and Missouri Roads
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 40,990 people died in car crashes nationwide in 2023, averaging more than 100 deaths every day. Missouri accounted for 991 of those fatalities, with 102 in Kansas City alone.
Over half of the state’s crash deaths—53%—involved pickup trucks or SUVs. Models like the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, and Toyota RAV4, all with median prices ranging from $33,000 to $59,000, dominate Missouri’s roads.
The report notes it’s not just about how many of these vehicles are on the road, but also how they are being driven.
The Hidden Risk of Expensive Vehicles
The analysis shows a clear link between vehicle price and unsafe driving behaviors such as speeding, failure to yield, and distracted driving.
Nationally, luxury brands now account for 40% of the top accident-involved vehicles. Despite advanced safety technology, drivers of Tesla, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are consistently overrepresented in crash statistics.
Top 10 luxury vehicles most often involved in crashes:
- Tesla – 36.94 crashes per 1,000 drivers
- Audi – 32.23
- BMW – 30.43
- Infiniti – 29.37
- Lexus – 28.67
- Acura – 28.44
- Mercedes-Benz – 26.39
- Volvo – 26.35
- Land Rover – 25.97
- Lincoln – 21.59
These vehicles may perform well in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests, but the findings suggest that technology can’t overcome reckless driver behavior.
The Income-to-Crash Gap
The firm’s study also examined how affordability factors in. The national median household income in 2023 was $80,610. Missouri’s was lower at $68,920, with Kansas City slightly lower still at $67,449.
Yet many vehicles on Missouri’s roads cost $50,000 or more, well above the commonly recommended guideline that car expenses should not exceed 10% of annual income.
Even more concerning, the study revealed that for every $1,000 increase in vehicle value, pedestrian yielding decreased by 3%—suggesting that drivers of more expensive vehicles are not only more aggressive but also less attentive to pedestrian safety.
Dangerous Driving Patterns in Missouri
The 2023 crash data in Missouri underscores how serious the problem is:
- 53% involved speeding
- 17% tied to alcohol use
- 10% caused by distracted driving
High-powered pickups and SUVs were disproportionately represented, especially in fatal cases.
Kansas City’s Most Dangerous Roads in 2023
The top 10 roads with the most fatalities included:
- I-435 – 26 fatalities
- 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 Blvd. – 4
- 31st Street – 4
“These aren’t just dangerous intersections. They’re patterns, and they’re preventable,” said a spokesperson for Kevin McManus Law.
Solutions: What Missouri and the Nation Can Do
The report outlines four strategies that could help reduce crash fatalities:
- Stronger seatbelt enforcement, particularly in pickups and SUVs, where 63% of fatalities involve unbelted passengers.
- Targeted safety campaigns focusing on high-risk drivers and vehicle types.
- Infrastructure improvements on high-fatality roads in urban and rural areas.
- Incentives for safer car ownership, such as tax benefits for buying used vehicles with strong safety records.
The Final Word
“Our data clearly shows that it’s not just what people drive, it’s how they drive it,” said a spokesperson for Kevin McManus Law. “Luxury cars and high-powered pickups may symbolize success, but they are also appearing at the center of too many fatal crash reports.”
The findings highlight a difficult truth: reckless driving is the real danger, regardless of how advanced the car is. Missouri’s roads—and America’s—can be made safer, but only if drivers, policymakers, and communities act on the data.
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