News archive

Tesla Model Y earns Top Safety Pick+

Dec 21, 2021 — The midsize luxury SUV comes with a standard front crash prevention system that earns superior ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian tests.

Two more companies meet autobrake pledge

Dec 17, 2021 — Ford/Lincoln and Honda/Acura joined 10 other automakers this year in fulfilling a voluntary commitment to equip nearly all the light vehicles they produce for the U.S. market with automatic emergency braking.

Revived Ford Bronco put through its paces

Dec 15, 2021 — The midsize SUV performs well in crash tests, but marginal headlights and an acceptable head restraint rating keep it from earning a Top Safety Pick award.

Ratings highlight best bike helmets

Nov 23, 2021 — A total of 73 bike helmets have earned a 5-star rating for concussion protection from Virginia Tech since the ratings were launched in 2018.

Small SUVs struggle in new side test

Oct 27, 2021 — Only one out of 20 small SUVs earns a good rating in a new, more stringent side-impact test designed to further reduce crash fatalities.

Good headlights mean fewer crashes

Oct 14, 2021 — Headlight improvements encouraged by the Institute’s ratings program are reducing crashes in the real world, a new study shows.

Driving tech could slash teen crashes

Sep 2, 2021 — Crash avoidance features and other technologies could prevent or mitigate up to three-quarters of fatal crashes involving teen drivers.

Infrastructure bill draws on IIHS-HLDI work

Aug 25, 2021 — The expansive bill passed by the Senate includes provisions on crash avoidance, truck underride, headlights, alcohol impairment and other areas in which the Institutes have conducted groundbreaking research.

Pandemic shows value of off-road bike trails

Aug 10, 2021 — Injury crash rates for bicyclists fell sharply in one Washington, D.C., suburb, last year as more riders took to the trails instead of unprotected bike lanes.

Chevrolet Traverse earns IIHS award

Aug 6, 2021 — The GMC Acadia, another midsize SUV from General Motors, also performs well in crash tests, but marginal headlights keep it out of the Top Safety Pick ranks.

Curves constrain use of vehicle automation

Jul 1, 2021 — Adaptive cruise control and more sophisticated partial automation are as much as 75 percent less likely to be active on freeway curves, limiting their potential safety benefits.

Crash rates rise in states with legal marijuana

Jun 17, 2021 — New research from IIHS and HLDI confirms the trend, but a separate study of injured drivers found no increase in crash risk from the drug except when combined with alcohol.

Two Hyundais earn Top Safety Pick

Apr 27, 2021 — The Elantra and Santa Fe, a small car and midsize SUV, qualify for the awards when equipped with specific headlights.

Two Audis earn Top Safety Pick+

Apr 13, 2021 — The 2021 Audi Q5 and Q5 Sportback, both midsize luxury SUVs, now qualify for the Institute’s highest award.

Clapp remains IIHS Board chair

Mar 24, 2021 — Dan Clapp, executive vice president of Shelter Insurance, will remain at the helm of the IIHS Board of Directors for 2021 as planned.

Ores Walsh elected HLDI Board chair

Mar 24, 2021 — Kathleen Ores Walsh, vice president of pricing and product analytics at USAA, is the new chair of HLDI's Board of Directors.

Safety groups tackle speed problem

Mar 4, 2021 — IIHS is partnering with the Governors Highway Safety Association and the National Road Safety Foundation to fund and evaluate pilot projects by two states to reduce speeding.

IIHS recognizes safest 2021 models

Feb 24, 2021 — Forty-nine vehicles qualify for the 2021 Top Safety Pick+ award, and another 41 earn the Top Safety Pick designation.

Introducing teens to driving technology

Jan 21, 2021 — Parents have mixed opinions about the role features like blindspot monitoring and lane departure warning should play in teaching their teens to drive.