News archive

Keeping drivers switched on

Nov 26, 2024 — Drivers who are used to partial automation that turns off when they try to share control over the steering are less willing to steer or put their hands on the wheel in sticky situations.

Four vehicles fall short in IIHS tests

Oct 31, 2024 — The recently updated moderate overlap front test tripped up two vehicles, while another pair stumbled in the longstanding small overlap test.

Lax helmet laws come with deadly cost

Oct 16, 2024 — More than 20,000 motorcyclists who died in crashes in the U.S. since the mid-1970s would have survived if stronger helmet laws had been in place.

More drivers use safety tech

Oct 1, 2024 — Almost 9 out of 10 drivers of equipped vehicles keep lane departure warning and prevention systems switched on. Seven of 10 use anti-speeding alerts.

Paying attention or faking it?

Sep 17, 2024 — Drivers are more likely to multitask when using partial automation. Some manage to do so even while playing by the rules of the systems’ attention requirements.

Eight more vehicles qualify for awards

Sep 12, 2024 — The new winners bring the total number of vehicles earning this year’s Top Safety Pick+ award to 38 and the number earning Top Safety Pick to 53.

Insight

Slowing my roll

Aug 13, 2024 — How does a speed-restricting device affect a grim D.C. commute? I got behind the wheel to find out and was pleasantly surprised.

By Ian Reagan

Lighting up crosswalks

Jul 30, 2024 — Crosswalk illuminators and flashing beacons dramatically increase the likelihood that drivers will yield to pedestrians, a new IIHS study shows.

2024 Hyundai Tucson earns laurels

Jul 25, 2024 — Vehicles built after March 2024 qualify for a Top Safety Pick+ award thanks to a good rating in the updated moderate overlap front test.

Mazda CX-90 PHEV earns highest accolade

Jun 28, 2024 — With a good rating in the updated moderate overlap front test, the midsize plug-in hybrid SUV offers stellar protection for back seat passengers.

BMW X2 snags 2024 Top Safety Pick award

Jun 25, 2024 — The redesigned small SUV has standard good-rated headlights and pedestrian crash prevention as well as good ratings in three main crash tests.

Insight

Designing vehicles for pedestrian safety

Jun 20, 2024 — Good road design is essential for safe, walkable communities, but it's not enough. Vehicles also need to be designed with pedestrians in mind.

By Jessica Cicchino

Drivers are open to anti-speeding tech

Jun 12, 2024 — Contrary to the conventional wisdom, more than 60% of drivers would accept intelligent speed assistance that provides a warning when they exceed the posted limit, a new IIHS survey shows.

Volkswagen ID.4 collects IIHS award

Jun 4, 2024 — With a standard front crash prevention system that earns an acceptable rating in the IIHS pedestrian test, the electric midsize SUV qualifies for a Top Safety Pick award.

Insight

It’s time to regulate vehicle automation

May 29, 2024 — As both partial driving automation and highly automated vehicles become more common, we lack commonsense rules to guide their use and collect safety data.

By David Kidd

More safe, affordable options for teens

May 22, 2024 — IIHS and Consumer Reports are raising the bar for their recommended used and new vehicles for young drivers now that prices have stabilized.

IIHS welcomes new AEB rule

May 7, 2024 — A requirement for automatic emergency braking on all new passenger vehicles is a step forward for safety but includes an unnecessary delay.

Three Hyundais earn IIHS awards

May 2, 2024 — The 2024 Ioniq 5 earns a Top Safety Pick+ award, while the 2024 Santa Fe and Sonata each qualify for Top Safety Pick.

Making deliveries safer

Apr 30, 2024 — Equipping light vans with four key safety features could address nearly 4 out of 10 fatal crashes involving such vehicles.

Crash avoidance systems struggle in new test

Apr 25, 2024 — Only one of the first 10 small SUVs evaluated earns a good rating in the new, higher-speed vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention evaluation, which evaluates performance with a motorcycle and semitrailer as well as a passenger car.

Rivian R1T earns highest award

Apr 2, 2024 — A good rating in the updated moderate overlap front test boosts the electric pickup to Top Safety Pick+ status.

Insight

Is there a need for speed in vehicle ads?

Mar 27, 2024 — Performance and adrenaline are commonly used to sell cars, SUVs and pickups, even as speed is implicated in more than 12,000 road deaths a year.

By Chuck Farmer

Kinsey becomes HLDI Board chair

Mar 21, 2024 — Jeff Kinsey, assistant vice president and actuary at State Farm Insurance Companies, has been elected chair of the HLDI Board of Directors for 2024. 

Automation safeguards fall short

Mar 12, 2024 — Only one of 14 partial driving automation systems evaluated earns an acceptable rating for its safeguards designed to prevent misuse and lapses of attention.

IIHS award criteria get tougher in 2024

Feb 27, 2024 — The new requirements challenge automakers to offer better protection for back seat passengers and improve their pedestrian crash avoidance systems.

IIHS alters scoring for latest crash test

Feb 22, 2024 — The updated moderate overlap front crash test now uses a new formula to determine injury risk that better accounts for variations in the position of the rear shoulder belt on the dummy’s chest.

Westrate becomes IIHS Board chair

Jan 17, 2024 — Bill Westrate, chair and chief executive officer of American Family Insurance, has been elected chair of the IIHS Board of Directors for 2024.