IIHS and HLDI News

Status Report: Vol. 45, No. 1

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Frontal airbags designed to meet the latest federal standards appear to have reduced protection for belted drivers in front crashes

Alcohol use is down sharply among nighttime drivers on weekends, but impairment remains a big problem in fatal crashes

People still die in frontal crashes because of personal factors like advanced age and vehicle factors like structures that don't do a good job of managing crash energy, NHTSA says

Institute rates small pickups for rollover and side impact crash protection

First time Institute rates small pickups for rollover protection; only one model rates good in test that assures strength of roof

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, VA — The Nissan Frontier has the strongest roof and the Chevrolet Colorado the weakest among 5 small pickup trucks, all 2010 models, that recently were tested for rollover protection by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Frontier, also sold as the Suzuki Equator, is the only pickup in the group to earn the highest rating of good. The Ford Ranger is rated acceptable while the Dodge Dakota, Toyota Tacoma, and Colorado (also sold as the GMC Canyon) earn the second lowest rating of marginal.

New ratings for Ford Mustang, Acura MDX, and Toyota Tundra

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Ford's re-engineered and restyled 2010 Mustang convertible earns good ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for occupant protection in offset frontal crashes and side impacts. When the Institute initially tested the 2010 model it earned a poor frontal rating, but it improved to good in a follow-up test after Ford modified the front structure and doors of models made after December 2009.

The 2010 Acura MDX earns a good rating for occupant protection in new side tests. Acura modified the side airbags in the current model of this midsize luxury SUV, which was redesigned for the 2007 model year. The 2007-2009 model also earned a good side rating.

Toyota modified the 2010 Tundra's frontal airbags and safety belts and added knee airbags for the driver and front passenger to retain the good rating it earned for frontal protection for 2007-09 models. This large pickup had previously earned good ratings for side and rear protection, too.

Laws banning cellphone use while driving fail to reduce crashes, new insurance data indicate

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, VA — As state legislators across the United States enact laws that ban phoning and/or texting while driving, a new Highway Loss Data Institute study finds no reductions in crashes after hand-held phone bans take effect. Comparing insurance claims for crash damage in 4 US jurisdictions before and after such bans, the researchers find steady claim rates compared with nearby jurisdictions without such bans. The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) is an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

New Jersey toughens belt law

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

New Jersey joins 23 other states in requiring rear seat occupants to ride restrained. Violations will be enforced as a secondary action, effective 1/20/11. For details on safety belt use laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/SafetyBeltUse.aspx

Jonathan Bennett is elected IIHS board chairman

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, VA — The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is pleased to announce the election of Jonathan Bennett as the new chairman of its Board of Directors. Bennett is executive vice president, personal and small business insurance, at The Hartford. He succeeds Gregory V. Ostergren, chairman, president, and chief executive officer, American National Property and Casualty Companies, who served as IIHS chairman during 2009 and will continue to serve as a member of the Board.

Bill Reddington is elected HLDI board chairman

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, VA — The Highway Loss Data Institute is pleased to announce the election of Bill Reddington as the new chairman of its Board of Directors. Reddington is director, actuarial services, of Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance Companies. He succeeds Shu C. Lin, senior vice president and actuary, Chubb & Son, who served as HLDI chairman in 2009 and will continue to serve as a Board member.

Status Report: Vol. 44, No. 11

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Booster ratings help parents pick seats that are most likely to offer the best safety belt fit for their children

What good lap/shoulder belt fit and bad belt fit looks like

How 60 boosters rate individually for lap belt fit and shoulder belt fit

Hybrid electric cars are more likely to crash with pedestrians and bicyclists

Children are safer restrained in boosters than kids who use safety belts alone

New booster ratings: 9 best bets & 6 good bets; 11 out of 60 seats evaluated aren't recommended

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, VA — New ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety take the guesswork out of selecting boosters most likely to provide good lap and shoulder belt fit in a range of vehicles. The Institute rates 9 belt-positioning boosters BEST BETS, and 6 are GOOD BETS out of 60 models examined in a new round of evaluations. Eleven boosters aren't recommended at all because they do such a poor job of fitting the belt. Fit is important because safety belts are designed with adults in mind, not kids. Boosters elevate children so belts will fit their small frames better to protect them in a crash.

IIHS backs fuel economy plan

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

In comments to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) supports efforts to increase fuel efficiency through a vehicle attribute-based system that takes safety into account. The system will raise fuel economy while keeping manufacturers from significantly downweighting or downsizing their vehicles.

Helmet laws for low-power cycles

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

IIHS has published a new state law table and interactive map of motorcycle helmet laws that cover low-power cycles, or LPCs. These include motor-driven cycles, mopeds, scooters, and various other 2-wheeled cycles that don't meet IIHS's definition of a motorcycle. While state laws vary, a cycle with an engine displacement of 50 cubic centimeters or less, brake horsepower of 2 or less, and top speeds of 30 mph or less typically is considered an LPC.

Twenty-two states have motorcycle helmet laws that cover all low-power cycles. Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia have laws that cover some low-power cycles.

27 winners of 2010 Top Safety Pick award; new requirement to win is good rating for protection in rollovers

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, VA — Nineteen cars and 8 SUVs earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award for 2010. For the first time, good performance in a roof strength test to measure protection in a rollover is required to win. Top Safety Pick recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rear, and now rollover crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests. Winners also must have electronic stability control, which research shows significantly reduces crash risk. This is the second time the Institute has tightened criteria since announcing the first recipients in 2005.

Status Report: Vol. 44, No. 10

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

TOP SAFETY PICK winners for 2010 are vehicles on the highest rung for protecting people in front, side, rear, and now rollover crashes, too

Winners by vehicle class

Crash avoidance features gain traction with Infiniti and Volvo owners

Subaru improves bumpers on 2010 Legacy to earn acceptable rating

Animal crashes continue to rise, and so do costs of fixing the damage

Rhode Island bans text messaging by all drivers

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Rhode Island joins 18 other states in banning text messaging by all drivers, effective Nov. 9, 2009. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

Subaru makes strides to lower repair costs

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Bumpers that don't bump, resulting in costly damage in what should be minor crashes, are the norm for cars evaluated in Institute low-speed crash tests. One exception is the redesigned 2010 Subaru Legacy. The Legacy's bumpers are a big improvement over those on its 2007-09 predecessor. The new Legacy earns an acceptable rating in a recent series of tests to assess and compare how well bumpers resist damage in everyday fender-benders. In contrast, the previous Legacy is rated poor in the same 4 tests. Fifteen out of 17 midsize cars evaluated by the Institute are rated marginal or poor for bumper protection.

"The Legacy's performance shows what automakers can do when they pay attention to damageability in low-speed crashes that happen every day in commuter traffic," says Joe Nolan, Institute senior vice president.

Feature article with photos

IIHS testifies before US House subcommittees on cellphone laws and distracted driving

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testified November 4 before a joint hearing of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection and the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet.

The cumulative evidence from various types of studies points toward cellphone use as a risk factor for crashes and impaired driving performance. While studies have reached different estimates of the magnitude of the risk, well-controlled research that verified phone use in large samples of crash-involved drivers found that the risk of crashing was 4 times higher when a driver was talking on either a hand-held or hands-free phone.

Seven states and the District of Columbia have banned hand-held cellphone use while driving, but the effects of these laws on hand-held use is mixed. Moreover, the effect on safety isn't clear. Many drivers still use hand-held phones where use is banned, and other drivers may switch to hands-free devices, which doesn't help, since the crash risk with either type of device is about the same. Preliminary data from insurance claims for collision suggest no apparent reduction in crash risk after states enacted hand-held bans.

Full text of testimony (PDF)

Status Report: Vol. 44, No. 9

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Cover story: cellphone laws

IIHS 50th anniversary celebration, featuring test comparing crashworthiness then and now

2010 Buick LaCrosse and 2010 Nissan Versa earn Top Safety Pick award

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse and the 2010 Nissan Versa are the Institute's newest Top Safety Pick award winners. To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control. Criteria to win are tough because the award is intended to drive continued safety improvements such as top crash test ratings and the rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard on the LaCrosse and optional on the Versa.

"Recognizing vehicles at the head of the class for safety helps consumers distinguish the best overall choices without having to sort through multiple test results," says Institute president Adrian Lund.

New Institute ratings for the Buick LaCrosse | Nissan Versa

Illinois allows low-speed vehicles on more roads

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Illinois will allow low-speed vehicles on any road with a posted limit of 30 mph or lower, effective January 2010. Previously, individual communities had to adopt laws to permit the use of low-speed vehicles on local roads. To compare low-speed vehicle laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/LowSpeedVehicles.aspx

3 midsize SUVs earn Top Safety Pick award

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The 2010 Cadillac SRX and the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, also sold as the GMC Terrain, are the Institute's newest Top Safety Pick award winners. To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control. Criteria to win are tough because the award is intended to drive continued safety improvements such as top crash test ratings and the rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard on the SRX, Equinox, and Terrain.

New Institute ratings for the Cadillac SRX | Chevrolet Equinox | GMC Terrain