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Hybrids: Three Times More Deadly Than Petrol Cars?
28 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Hybrids are three times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than petrol cars.
- Hybrid fires are harder for firefighters to extinguish due to complex fire scenarios.
- Electric vehicles are the safest, causing fewer fatalities than hybrids and petrol cars.
Road safety experts are urging for a thorough investigation following revelations that hybrid vehicles present a significantly higher risk of fatal accidents. Analysis of recent figures indicates motorists are three times more likely to die in a hybrid car crash than in one involving a petrol car, despite hybrids being outnumbered nearly 20 to 1 on British roads.
The complex combination of petrol engines, batteries, and electric motors in hybrids is believed to contribute to the increased danger. These systems can be harder to control and are more prone to fires. The cars' batteries, vulnerable to heat from the engine, pose an additional fire risk, and the high electric current can endanger passengers and first responders who require specialized training for hybrid-related incidents.
While diesel cars show slightly better safety records, electric vehicles (EVs) are the safest, causing a minimal number of fatalities. Concerns are mounting for ministers as public enthusiasm for Net Zero cools and demand for EVs and hybrids stagnates, particularly with a ban on new petrol and diesel cars approaching.
