A viral nickname versus the numbersSourced
Japan coined a vivid name for crashes.
The statistics tell a quieter story.
The Japanese slang Prius Missile spread online after widely reported crashes. Yet transport-ministry data cited in the source says the Prius's crash rate is not different from other vehicles. A memorable label is not a risk measure.
The nickname stuck.
The numbers deserve a look too.
Summary / translation: Unbubly · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Prius Missile · Wikimedia contributors
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Reviewed: 2026-10-01