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Hybrid Cars: 3x More Fatal Crashes Revealed
29 Mar
Summary
- Hybrid car occupants are three times more likely to die than petrol car occupants.
- Emergency services are overhauling accident investigation protocols for hybrids.
- New data shows a heightened risk of fires in hybrid vehicles due to their components.
Emergency services are set to change how they investigate accidents involving hybrid cars. This overhaul follows revelations that occupants of hybrid vehicles face a threefold increase in fatality risk compared to those in petrol cars. The analysis indicates a concerning trend in hybrid car safety.
Experts speculate that the complex combination of petrol engines, batteries, and electric motors within hybrids might make them more susceptible to fires. Concerns have been raised that these vehicles could be 'the worst of both worlds' regarding safety. Fire and rescue services will now meticulously track the causes of blazes.
According to figures, 122 individuals died in hybrid car crashes in 2024, contrasting with 777 fatalities in petrol car accidents. Given that hybrids are far less common on Britain's roads than petrol cars, this translates to a significantly higher likelihood of fatal incidents. Transport ministers have confirmed that fire and rescue services will now systematically record whether a battery was the ignition source and if it was charging during an incident.
