Corvette Worst In A Crash, Study Of Fatalities Shows

The Chevrolet Corvette has the highest death rate in crashes and a four-door Volvo has the lowest, according to a study made public today.

The study shows that 5.2 drivers and passengers die in car wrecks for every 10,000 1985-87 Corvettes registered in the United States. It also found the Volvo 740-760 four-door had the lowest rate, 0.6 deaths per 10,000 vehicles.

The figures from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety were released by the Michigan Association of Professional Insurance Agents.

``Without question the consumer has a better chance of survival when driving a larger vehicle,'' said James Alexander, president of the Michigan association.

Of the 10 vehicles with the lowest death rates, three were large, six were midsize and only one was a small car - the Volkswagen Jetta, with 1.1 deaths per 10,000 vehicles.

There were an estimated 181 million vehicles registered in the U.S. in 1987, the latest year with available statistics. There are 2.3 million vehicles registered in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties.

Twelve of the 15 cars with the highest death rates are small, and the three others are midsize.

Gary Mitchell, a spokesman for the association, said the auto industry was making more small, fuel-efficient cars but that they weren't as safe as the larger models.

``What we've seen in recent years is that the industry has placed such a great emphasis on fuel economy that safety has been compromised,'' he said. ``They're lighter, so they're more fuel efficient. And that's commendable, but I don't think fuel efficiency should take a front seat over safety.''

Debra Barclay, spokeswoman for the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Auto Safety, agreed.

``We have continued to say that you can make fuel efficient cars that are safe. The technology is available. It's not being used to the extent that it can be,'' she said.

``With air bags, consumers have to pay a few extra hundred dollars, but they get an opportunity to save their life. People are thrilled to have that choice.''

Car death rates;

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-- The 1985-87 models with lowest, highest death rates, as compiled by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Figure after each model refers to number of driver and passenger deaths per 10,000 vehicles registered in the U.S.:;

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10 LOWEST DEATH RATES;

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Volvo 740-760 four-door 0.6;

Ford Taurus wagon 0.7;

Lincoln Town Car 0.8;

Audi 5000 four-door 1.1;

Cadillac Fleetwood DeVille;

four-door 1.1;

Cadillac Fleetwood DeVille;

two-door 1.1;

Chevrolet Cavalier wagon 1.1;

Olds Cutlass Ciera wagon 1.1;

Toyota Cressida four-door 1.1;

Volkswagen Jetta four-door 1.1;

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15 HIGHEST DEATH RATES;

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Chevrolet Corvette 5.2;

Chevrolet Camaro 4.9;

Dodge Charger-Shelby 4.5;

Ford Mustang 4.4;

Nissan 300ZX 4.2;

Chevrolet Chevette four-door 4.1;

Chevrolet Sprint two-door 4.1;

Honda Civic CRX 3.9;

Pontiac Firebird 3.8;

Plymouth Turismo 3.6;

Pontiac Fiero 3.6;

Chevrolet Chevette two-door 3.4;

Chevrolet Spectrum four-door 3.2;

Dodge Daytona two-door 3.1;

Ford Escort two-door 3.0;