Interesting – I would think the Prius death rate would be higher, due to the anger focused on them.

[quote=sdrealtor]I would think it was lower as top speed is 23 MPH[/quote]

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20044628,00.html

Al Gore must have fixed up his son’s Prius.

[quote=paramount][quote=svelte]

Interesting to note a 350Z driver died on I-15 last month, racing another car down an onramp to the freeway at Lake Hodges.[/quote]

I was wondering what had happened, I saw that accident going home; it looked like the car struck a pole but I didn’t see a pole nearby.[/quote]

He was entering I-15 southbound from via rancho, was racing a black pickup, lost control and hit the pole on the right edge of the roadway. That sent him careening into the center divide. Died on the spot. Young guy, early 20s as I recall.

[quote=EmilyHicks]This data is deaths per 100 mil cars which is not the same as death per 100 mil miles driven because we know that Prius drivers on average drive a lot more than an average drivers hence the need for a Prius.
[/quote]

Please supply link offering proof.

[quote=svelte][quote=EmilyHicks]This data is deaths per 100 mil cars which is not the same as death per 100 mil miles driven because we know that Prius drivers on average drive a lot more than an average drivers hence the need for a Prius.
[/quote]

Please supply link offering proof.[/quote]

Actually, I just did 3 searches for all 2008 Civics, Mazda3s, and Prius within 100 miles of San Marcos on AutoTrader.

When I added their mileages and divided by number of cars, here is what I found:

2008 Prius: 15,600 miles/year (73 cars found)
2008 Civic: 13,400 miles/year (188 cars found)
2008 Mazda3: 13,400 miles/year (51 cars found)

So Prius averages 2,200 more miles per year. Higher mileage cars usually have freeway miles. Freeways are safer than other roads. Extra miles probably a wash when factoring in more freeway miles?

http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_02_18.html

Surprisingly all these safety statistics about the Prius don’t make me feel any safer around them, since I bounced off the hood of one last year. The only safe car is one being driven by someone who is aware of their surroundings and understands the capabilites and limitations of their vehicle.

Your high milelage presumption is interesting svelte, as Prius gas mileage on the highway isn’t all that great. Their biggest advantage is in stop-start driving. It has always been my contention that the average Prius driver would get better mileage and thus less environmental impact from a Jetta diesel. Your numbers might support that. I wonder if we can get HOV stickers for diesels? (Ha Ha)

[quote=Navydoc]
Your high milelage presumption is interesting svelte, as Prius gas mileage on the highway isn’t all that great. Their biggest advantage is in stop-start driving. It has always been my contention that the average Prius driver would get better mileage and thus less environmental impact from a Jetta diesel. Your numbers might support that. I wonder if we can get HOV stickers for diesels? (Ha Ha)[/quote]

Our Prius averaged over 45mpg on a recent round trip to Vegas, including over all of the hills and through lots of wind. Turbo diesels do get good long distance mileage but the majority of people drive most of their miles in daily commutes through start/stop traffic. Popular Mechanics did a comparison of the Jetta TDI and the Prius that demonstrates this well. Yes the TDI performed better on the highway — by .6mpg. In city driving the Prius beat the Jetta TDI by 12.7mpg and again, that’s where most of us do most of our driving.

Also, the yellow stickers are no longer available. If you want to drive solo in the HOV lane you’re going to need to go electric.