YES! I still drive the deadlist thing on four wheels!

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Joey D

Joey D

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IIHS names Chevrolet Blazer most likely to kill

Source: Autoblog

The Chevrolet Blazer (not to be confused with the Trailblazer) continues to statistically be the most deadly vehicle on the road. Looking at statistics from 2002 through 2005, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that drivers of two-door, 2WD Chevy Blazers built from 2001 to 2004 had 232 drive deaths per million registered vehicles. The average number of deaths in the same time period was 79 deaths per million.

In General Motors' defense, spokesman Alan Adler said this in the Associated Press article, "The study doesn't really take into account driver behavior or how the vehicles are used so it's difficult to really draw much significance." Which, coincidentally, is pretty much exactly what he said in 2005, when the Blazer was first named the deadliest vehicle on the road.

But, he's got a point that the IIHS research backs up. The vehicle with the lowest number of deaths per million was the Chevy Astro minivan, with seven deaths per million.

In case you're curious, the second deadliest was the Acura RSX with 202, and third was the Nissan 350Z with 193. On the other end with the Astro was the Infinit G35, BMW 7 Series and Toyota 4Runner.

Here is the link to the magazine article:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/iihs-status-report-for-driver-deaths/
 
RSX? 350Z? And on the other end there's two expensive geezer cars, along with two soccermom trucks. You know how soccermoms drive.

Yeah, I have a feeling driving behavior has something to do with these deaths. Because of their performance the RSX and 350 would be safer in experienced hands because it's easier ot avoid tricky situations. And on another note, the 350 and G35 are basically the same car and have a very similar structure. But the 350 is a sports car. The is a luxury coupe/sedan.
 
Still what gets me is that the Blazer is safe, I've been in two accidents and the only injury I had was to my knee when it got rocked against the door and twisted in a weird way. But the guy that hit me was doing 60 and I was going about 20, and he was in an old Caprice or something.
 
It makes sense. Two-door Blazers are more likely to be owned by younger folk than older people with kids (who would want four doors) -- Joey is proof of that.

Also, the lack of 4WD, aside from possibly catching stupid people off-guard in inclement conditions ("I thought it had AWD!"), would at the very least endanger drivers inept and ignorant enough to be better-suited to a FWD car -- I'll give Joey the benefit of the doubt on those. ;)

Throw the high center of gravity, weight, blah blah it's an SUV, etc. into the mix, and it all comes together.
 
What surprises me though is why my insurance is so low.
 
Part of your insurance rates are probably because - And please don't take offence to this - Your truck probably isn't worth that much. Blazers are very common vehicles, and thus are cheaper to get parts for and repair.

I think this study really shows the difference between driving habits and styles, as the Blazer is ranked most deadly, whereas the Astro is among the lowest. Why does this show the difference? Both are the same underneath. Same frame, same engine and transmission. Different body. Different drivers.
 
Oh I agree it's worthless, I think the KBB on it is a little under 8 grand. I actually never thought about that.
 
I can explain the Z and the RSX. Young dumb drivers going too fast. You could've replaced those with "Chevelle", "Mustang", and "Camaro" in the '60s.

The study has more to do with driving habits in general. that, and the Astro's become a rarity compared to the Chryslers.
 
Joey D
What surprises me though is why my insurance is so low.
Click to expand...

Slicks
Part of your insurance rates are probably because - And please don't take offence to this - Your truck probably isn't worth that much. Blazers are very common vehicles, and thus are cheaper to get parts for and repair.
Click to expand...

Speaking from an english point of view here, i dont actually think that joeys blazer being crap will effect it. To put what i mean into perspective ill give you a personal example.

I had insurance quotes for 2 cars with the same engine, a Corrado and a Golf G60 (1.8 supercharged). The insurance for the Golf, fully comprehensive, was £2559 if i remember rightly however the corrado was a little under £950, fully comprehensive, to insure. The reasons i came up with for this is that Mk2 golfs have been crashed, stolen modded etc so much that its pushed the premium up. The Corrado is a much rarer car and not crashed as much which means that the insurance company decides people driving a corrado are less likely to crash than in the equivilent engined golf.

This may be the same with joeys blazer, although its a death trap it may well be that insurance companies dont get many insurance claims for them which can drive the cost of insuring the said vehicle down my a healthy margin.

Spec....
 

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