Killer Cars of Instagram

Are Your Double-Taps Fueling a Deadly Trend?

A new study by DJC Law has revealed a shocking correlation: the cars racking up likes on Instagram are also racking up some serious crash statistics. Turns out, internet fame might just be a highway to heaven (or, you know, the junkyard).

Leading the charge in this vehicular popularity contest of carnage is the Ford Mustang. With nearly 12 million Instagram posts and almost 2,000 crashes in four years, it seems the Mustang’s reputation for being a bit of a wild ride is well-earned. Clearly, people love to show off their Mustangs online, even if it means risking a close encounter with a telephone pole.

But the Mustang isn’t alone in this dangerous dance of likes and losses. The humble Honda Civic, often seen as the sensible choice, boasts a shocking 4,966 crashes despite being less of an Instagram star with 7.4 million posts. Guess those “safe car” stereotypes don’t hold up under the scrutiny of a social media obsessed populace.

Surprisingly, not everyone is treating the highway like their personal demolition derby track. The Nissan GT-R, while still a popular subject for the ‘gram, manages to keep its crashes remarkably low. Maybe GT-R owners are too busy admiring its sleek lines to, you know, actually drive it.

BMW also makes a strong showing, with the M3, M4, and M5 all making the list. While their crash rates vary, they prove that being photogenic doesn’t automatically mean you’re an accident waiting to happen.

And let’s not forget the Jeep Wrangler, the poster child for off-road adventures. Its high crash numbers suggest those adventures sometimes take a wrong turn, even with all that rugged appeal.

Rounding out our lineup of Insta-famous autos are the Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette, and the Audi R8. Each with their own unique combination of likes and crashes, they add further fuel to this fiery debate about whether social media fame is worth the risk.

As the wise folks at DJC Law point out, a car’s popularity on social media doesn’t necessarily mean it’s inherently dangerous. Driver behavior still plays a major role (shocking, I know). But this study does give us pause to consider the influence of social media on our driving habits. Are we so busy capturing the perfect shot that we’re forgetting to pay attention to the road?

Here’s the list: