How the Corvette Design Has Changed Alongside Safety Standards

The Corvette has always been a car with a lot of power, often seen as an entry-level model to the high-performance sports car segment. Stereotypically it has been associated with wealthier people, primarily men having their mid-life crisis.

Some studies suggest that wealthier motorists in more expensive vehicles are more likely to drive recklessly. The Corvette matches that description. It has arguably the highest fatal accident rate in the history of sports cars or any other car for that matter. For example, the fatal accident rate of the Corvette (Cars per Billion Vehicle Miles) is 9.8. That is almost four times as many as the average for all vehicles.

There are some theories as to why. One being that Corvette is a common choice for someone entering the high-end sports car market. And being able to afford a sports car doesn’t mean you have the skills to drive it safely. So, a car with that much power in the wrong hands is a recipe for disaster.

Another theory is that most sports cars don’t undergo many crash tests nor have safety ratings. This lack of safety research makes many sports cars four-wheeled weapons.