Highway Safety: News, Information and Reviews
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.
Tue, 01 Dec 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.
Fri, 20 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
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.
Wed, 18 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
Tue, 10 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...
Mon, 09 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...
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT
Cover story: cellphone laws IIHS 50th anniversary celebration, featuring test comparing crashworthiness then and now
Tue, 13 Oct 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....
Thu, 24 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
Mon, 21 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. "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...
Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT
ARLINGTON, VA — People are ready to prevent any driver from starting a vehicle after drinking too much alcohol, even though the technology to do it isn't available yet. Responding to a new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety survey, people across the nation said they like the idea of using advanced technology to stop drunk drivers from operating their vehicles. About 2 of 3 respondents deem this a good or very good idea, assuming the technology is reliable. More than 40 percent would want such devices in their own cars if offered as an option. Drinkers and nondrinkers alike favor the concept.
Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT
Alcohol detection devices for all drivers garner widespread support Regulating light truck bumpers gets a look-see from NHTSA Amber is a better color than red for rear turn signals Camera enforcement case summaries are available at iihs.org Better truck brakes are on tap Crash deaths continue to decline, though deaths of motorcyclists keep bucking the overall trend
Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT
Comparative loss information under six coverages , from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI)
Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT
2010 models of the Dodge Journey, Lincoln MKT, and Mazda 3 are the Institute's newest Top Safety Pick award winners. New Institute ratings for the Dodge Journey Lincoln MKT Mazda 3
Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT
The Institute has updated Fatality Facts , an annual summary of fatal crash information from the federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT