IIHS Top Safety Pick Award Recipients
March 10, 2020
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) releases an annual list of vehicles that receive high scores in a range of safety tests. In response to an increase in pedestrian deaths, this year’s list includes vehicles that earned high scores in pedestrian safety, nighttime visibility, and passenger safety. Vehicles must achieve Good or Acceptable ratings in a range of categories to qualify for a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick Plus award. This year, the list is focused on pedestrians and passengers.
IIHS is now directing attention to crash avoidance features. Vehicles must offer front crash prevention systems and achieve high scores in the agency’s vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention tests. They must also have Good or Acceptable ratings for headlights. In 2018, there were 53 percent more pedestrian fatalities compared to 2009. By emphasizing pedestrian crash prevention, IIHS encourages automakers to equip all vehicles with this technology.
Vehicles Must Meet a Higher Standard
IIHS has strengthened its crash test criteria. In order to receive a Top Safety Pick award, vehicles must achieve a Good rating in the passenger-side small overlap crash test. This recreates a car accident where the front corner or a car hits another vehicle, tree, or utility pole. According to Consumer Reports, the safety improvements that IIHS is expecting from vehicle manufacturers will protect the vehicle occupants, as well as pedestrians.
Sixty-six percent of 2020 models have earned a Good rating for the driver-side small overlap test, but only 46 percent received a Good rating in the passenger-side test. As vehicle designs are improved, those numbers are expected to rise. From 2019 to 2020, the Ford Escape went from having a Poor rating to a Good rating after it went through a major redesign.
Top Safety Picks
Sixty-four of the 219 models that IIHS tested received a Top Safety Pick rating, and 23 qualified for a Top Safety Pick Plus rating. Mazda had the most Top Safety Pick Plus awards, and Hyundai had the most award winners overall.
Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Seek Justice for Victims of Car Accidents
If you were injured in a car accident as a passenger or a pedestrian, it is in your best interest to contact the Baltimore car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. Vehicles that do not have highly rated safety technology may not be effective at protecting you if you are in a car accident. We will work closely with you to determine who is responsible for the accident and ensure that you receive the maximum financial compensation you deserve. We will continue to fight for you until we have your complete satisfaction. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
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