While these large vehicles dominate the highways, they also leave behind a trail of serious accidents.
A report from Hines Law has identified the ten vehicles that are particularly hazardous for other drivers and pedestrians, based on annual fatality statistics. The analysis compared fatalities occurring in crashes involving different vehicles.
The Ram 3500 is highlighted as the riskiest pickup for drivers sharing the road, yet it ranks as one of the safest for its own operators. This conclusion comes from a September 2026 report examining the disparity in deadly incidents, comparing fatalities of other drivers against those of the Ram drivers.
This research scrutinized nearly 200 vehicle models to determine which present the most danger to others while protecting their own drivers. It assessed two specific fatality rates: the number of drivers who die in collisions involving their own vehicle, and how many individuals in other vehicles perish when colliding with that same vehicle.
To allow for a fair comparison between different models, both rates were calculated per million vehicle-years. The combined data revealed which cars pose a heightened risk to others on the road.
An additional study indicated that an adult pedestrian struck by an SUV is 44% more likely to be killed compared to those hit by smaller cars. The risk increases dramatically for children, with an 82% greater likelihood of fatality.
Questions are being raised regarding the size of SUVs. In the UK, some experts are urging the government to limit the size of SUVs available to the public. However, a representative from Hines Law believes such measures are improbable in the U.S., where large trucks are culturally embraced.
Here’s the list of the top ten vehicles that drivers should be cautious of while on the road:
- Ram 3500 crew cab long bed 4WD
- Chevrolet Silverado 3500 crew cab 4WD
- Ram 2500 crew cab short bed 4WD
- Ford F-150 SuperCrew 2WD
- Chevrolet Silverado 2500 crew cab 4WD
- Volkswagen Atlas 2WD
- Ram 1500 Quad 2WD
- Cadillac XT5 2WD
- GMC Sierra 2500 crew cab 4WD
- Ram 1500 crew cab short bed 2WD
1. Ram 3500 crew cab long bed 4WD
- Own-driver deaths: 37 per million vehicle-years
- Other-driver deaths: 204 per million vehicle-years
- Weight: 6,872 lbs, making it one of the heaviest trucks
- Liability claims for property damage: 93% above average
The Ram 3500 Crew Cab Long Bed 4WD is considered the most dangerous vehicle for other users of the road. In collisions involving this truck, the driver of the other vehicle is over five times more likely to die compared to the Ram occupant. With a weight approaching 6,900 pounds, this truck also results in 90% more property damage claims than the average vehicle.
2. Chevrolet Silverado 3500 crew cab 4WD
This vehicle takes second place. The driver death rate is relatively low at 10 per million vehicle-years, but other drivers face a much higher risk, with 126 fatalities attributed to collisions with this truck. Weighing over 7,000 pounds, it is the heaviest vehicle on American roads and is associated with nearly 60% more liability claims than other cars.
3. Ram 2500 crew cab short bed 4WD
Another Ram model in the top five, the Ram 2500 crew cab short bed 4WD, sees external drivers facing more than five times the chance of dying than those inside the Ram. Weighing over 6,700 pounds, this model has liability claims that are 63% higher than average vehicles.
4. Ford F-150 SuperCrew 2WD
At around 4,500 pounds, the Ford F-150 SuperCrew 2WD is substantially lighter than the Ram 3500. It’s a popular choice, but when it comes to accidents, the risk for other drivers is over 14 times greater than for the F-150 driver.
5. Chevrolet Silverado 2500 crew cab 4WD
Completing the list of the five most dangerous vehicles, the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 crew cab 4WD weighs in at 6,600 pounds. Its driver death rate is 21 per million vehicle-years, but the rate for other drivers is five times higher, reaching 111 per million vehicle-years.
