New Standards in Testing
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an agency funded by the insurance industry, has released its annual list of the safest cars: those that get top scores across its numerous safety tests. In addition to its six standard crashworthiness tests, this was the first year that the list looked at factors such as visibility at night, passenger safety, and protection for pedestrians. This shift in emphasis was partly due to a trend in the past 10 years of increasing pedestrian deaths.
In addition to the expanded criteria, the crash tests themselves have become more stringent. To get a Top Safety Pick award, a vehicle must now get a Good rating in a crash test that mimics the impact between a front corner of the car and another object. The passenger-side small overlap test is the most recent of the crashworthiness evaluations. This test was adopted after it became apparent in prior years that some automakers were focusing only on the driver’s side and neglecting the passenger side as they made upgrades to their safety designs.
Test Results Matter
It is hoped that the more stringent standards will encourage auto manufacturers to make changes to design and structure that will result in better-protected vehicle occupants. Modern automobiles have nearly mastered side, head restraint, moderate overlap, and roof-strength tests, but the tests have shown that with regard to the driver and passenger-side small overlap testing, there is room for improvement. Only 46% of the 2020 models earned a Good in the passenger-side small overlap test, compared to 66% that received a Good in the driver-side small overlap.
Proof that the more stringent criteria can affect change is illustrated in the 2020 Ford Escape, which, after a significant redesign, moved up from a 2019 Poor rating to Good on the passenger-side small overlap test.
219 vehicle models were tested by IIHS, and of those, 64 were rated as a Top Safety Pick. Twenty-three vehicles qualified for Top Safety Pick Plus, which included a Good headlight rating, earned by vehicles whose headlights provided a balance between clear visibility and not causing excessive glare toward oncoming cars. The proper balance can make the difference between drivers seeing an obstacle in time to avoid it or stop, or crashing into it.
The Top Scorers
Mazda received the most Safety Pick Plus designations with five models achieving that designation: the Mazda 3 Hatchback, Cx-3, Mazda 6, Mazda 3 Sedan, and the Cx-5. Mazda also earned a Top Safety Pick for the Cx-9 model.
Hyundai (which includes its luxury line, Genesis) earned the highest number of awards overall, with three models awarded the Top Safety Pick Plus.
The Others
No vehicles from Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, or Mitsubishi earned either the of the Top Safety Pick awards, and Lincoln, BMW, Ford, and Volvo received no Top Safety Pick Plus designations.
No minivans or pickups qualify for either award so far this year.
Watch the YouTube Video – IIHS announces safety awards for 2020 – IIHS News: In the following video, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announces 64 vehicles that had received the 2020 IIHS awards due to their state-of-the-art safety features.
Natomas Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Natomas personal injury lawyer. If another driver’ s recklessness resulted in injury to you or to a member of your family, call us for free, friendly advice toll-free at (800) 404-5400 or (916) 921-6400 for local residents.
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