IIHS and HLDI News

Frontal crash testing is focus of latest IIHS web video

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The latest installment in a series of web videos from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety explores the ins and outs of frontal crash testing. "Inside IIHS: Frontal offset testing" explains the differences between the Institute's two frontal crash tests and demonstrates how structural performance, dummy injury measures and restraint systems affect a vehicle's frontal rating.

The video is available on the IIHS YouTube channel and is the second in the �Inside IIHS� series. The first video focused on crash test dummies.

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Redesigned Subaru Forester aces tough new crash test; only 2 of 13 small SUVs tested earn Top Safety Pick+

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The 2014 Subaru Forester is the first vehicle to ace every aspect of the challenging small overlap front crash test. The Forester and the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, which earns acceptable in the test, are the latest vehicles to qualify for the Institute's recently inaugurated top honor, Top Safety Pick+. Other tested small SUVs earn poor or marginal ratings for small overlap.

Go behind the scenes at IIHS with new web videos

Tue, 07 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

A new series of web videos provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the work of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Vehicle Research Center. In "Inside IIHS," engineers explain the Institute's test programs and highlight some of the equipment they use in their research.

The first video, "Inside IIHS: Crash test dummies at work," is available on the IIHS YouTube channel beginning today. Learn what kind of dummies IIHS uses and how they help engineers evaluate vehicle crashworthiness.

More videos in this series will be uploaded weekly starting Tuesday, May 21.

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Toyota RAV4 earns Top Safety Pick

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The Toyota RAV4, a small SUV, earns the Top Safety Pick award for good performance in the Institute's moderate overlap front, side, rollover and rear evaluations.

Toyota redesigned the RAV4 for 2013. One notable change is that the automaker improved the RAV4's roof structure to earn a good rating for rollover protection.

In the roof strength test, the new model's roof withstood a force equal to 5 times the SUV's weight. The previous generation RAV4, manufactured from 2006 to 2012, had a strength-to-weight ratio of 3.46, which equates to an acceptable rating.

Status Report: Vol. 48, No. 3

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Volvo's City Safety is preventing front-to-rear crashes for people who drive S60 cars, XC60 SUVs

More choices for buyers as automakers adopt systems

Vehicle Research Center project to allow more crash avoidance tests

Key child restraint strap is often overlooked and misunderstood by parents

In the nation's capital, solid support for automated enforcement

D.C. residents agree red light cameras, speed cameras make streets safer in nation's capital, IIHS survey reveals

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, Va. — Red light cameras and speed cameras are perpetual targets of critics who deem them widely unpopular and unfair. Ask people who live in areas with long-standing automated enforcement programs their view of cameras and a different picture emerges. A new survey by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows a large majority of people who live in Washington, D.C., favor camera enforcement.

New crash tests: Underride guards on most big rigs leave passenger vehicle occupants at risk in certain crashes

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Modern semitrailers for the most part do a good job of keeping passenger vehicles from sliding underneath when they crash into the backs of trucks. But the trailers fail to prevent potentially deadly underride in crashes involving only a small portion of the truck's rear, new IIHS tests show.

Status Report: Vol. 48, No. 2

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Rear underride guards work well, but most could do better

Front and side underride crashes are harder to address

Two-lane roundabouts improve safety but bring some confusion

South Dakota alcohol monitoring program reduces repeat DUIs

Five vehicles earn IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Five vehicles earn the Institute's top safety award based on their performance in the new small overlap front crash test.

The Honda Civic 2-door and 4-door, both small cars, and the Volvo XC60, a midsize luxury SUV, all earned good ratings for small overlap protection. The Lincoln MKZ, a midsize luxury car, and the Mazda 6, a midsize moderately priced car, both received an acceptable rating. All are 2013 models except the Mazda 6, which is redesigned for 2014.

The vehicles earned the Top Safety Pick+ award because they received good ratings in the Institute's moderate overlap front, side, rollover and rear tests, plus good or acceptable ratings in the new small overlap test. The small overlap test is designed to replicate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or object like a tree or utility pole.

The Honda Civic, the first small car to earn the Top Safety Pick+ award, received significant front structure upgrades to improve small overlap performance, and engineers at Volvo updated the airbag algorithm to deploy the side curtain airbag in the small overlap test.

2014 Subaru Forester earns IIHS Top Safety Pick award

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The Subaru Forester, a small SUV, earns the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation. Top Safety Pick recognizes vehicles that earn good ratings in four Institute crash tests: moderate overlap front, side, rollover and rear.

Redesigned for the 2014 model year, the Subaru Forester joins the previous generation model as a Top Safety Pick award winner.

The Institute will release results for small SUVs in the new small overlap frontal crash test in the spring.

USAA's Gannon elected IIHS Board chairman

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is pleased to announce the election of Alice H. Gannon as the new chairman of its Board of Directors. She is the second woman to serve as IIHS Board chairman. Gannon is senior vice president, chief actuary, of USAA. She succeeds Douglas S. Joyce, president of Alfa Alliance Insurance Corporation, who served as IIHS chairman during 2012 and will continue to serve as a Board member.

Progressive's Doerfler elected HLDI Board chairman

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) is pleased to announce the election of Michael D. Doerfler as the new chairman of its Board of Directors. Doerfler is a product development manager of Progressive Insurance. He succeeds James Nutting, senior vice president and chief actuary, Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, who served as chairman in 2012 and will continue to serve as a Board member.

Study provides more evidence that cameras reduce red light running; decrease is biggest for most dangerous violations well into red cycle

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, Va. — In the latest study confirming the benefits of red light cameras, researchers at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that red light running rates declined at Arlington, Va., intersections equipped with cameras. The decreases were particularly large for the most dangerous violations, those happening 1½ seconds or longer after the light turned red.

Status Report: Vol. 48, No. 1

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Sharing the road: Communities try new ways to improve bicyclist safety

Study provides more evidence that cameras reduce red light running

Drivers back stronger belt reminders; European systems could be model

Back seats also should have belt reminders, parents say

Status Report: Vol. 47, No. 10

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Family cars trump luxury models in rigorous new crash test; top performance earns 13 cars 2013 TOP SAFETY PICK+

Volvo owners give thumbs-up to crash avoidance features

Combination side airbags reduce death and injury risk

Family cars outperform luxury models in rigorous new crash test; strong performance earns 13 midsize cars highest safety accolade

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A group of moderately priced midsize cars outperformed most of their luxury counterparts in a challenging new frontal crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on 2013 models. Of the 18 midsize family cars evaluated in the small overlap test, two earn the top rating of good, 11 earn acceptable, three earn marginal, and two are poor. To reward 2013 models with superior crash protection, IIHS has created the TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, with the + indicating good or acceptable performance in the new small overlap test. So far, 13 models qualify for the accolade.

New TOP SAFETY PICK+ award goes to 13 cars; 117 additional vehicles earn TOP SAFETY PICK

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

To reward 2013 models with superior crash protection, IIHS is awarding the new TOP SAFETY PICK+ accolade to 13 cars. All earn good or acceptable ratings in the new IIHS small overlap test as well as top marks in other IIHS evaluations.

Status Report: Vol. 47, No. 9

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Changing mix: Despite worries, aging population won't push up nation's crash rate

Research suggests guidelines for credible camera enforcement

Speed-alert devices plus incentives can curb speeding

Risk of collisions with deer is highest during November

Risk of deer collisions soars in November; animal strike claims most likely in West Virginia

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Vehicle damage from hitting an animal is more than 3½ times as common in November as in August, when claims are lowest, a Highway Loss Data Institute report shows. The high-claim period coincides with deer mating season, when bucks are likely to be roaming.

Status Report: Vol. 47, No. 8

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Boosters reach milestone: Nearly all new seats provide good belt fit

Freeway speeds rise as more drivers exceed posted limits

Choosing speed over safety in Texas

Graduated licensing benefits older beginners in Australia