According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s vehicle tests for the 2012 models, a tremendous 115 achieved the “Top Safety Pick” rating. This was the case even for the 2012 vehicle base models, as they must now include electronic stability control, antilock brakes, multiple airbags, and a tire pressure sensor monitor. The more expensive models included additional safety features such as blind-spot warning alerts and lights, and backup cameras. As a result, deaths from traffic incidents are declining. According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, in 2010,…
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Insurance Institute calls bans on mobile devices useless
States throughout the U.S. are beginning to adopt strict rules concerning the use of mobile devices whilst driving, as recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, however, claims that bans on mobile devices simply do not work. The Institute, which is financially backed by auto insurers, argues that the states that currently have laws banning mobile devices do not have lower crash rates than states without such laws. The Institute’s claims are backed by studies done by the group regarding crash rates and how…
Read MoreChevrolet Volt continues to receive top marks for crash safety from insurers
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) continues to stand by its decision to give the Chevrolet Volt the title of Top Safety Pick, regardless of a probe by the federal government that examined the post-crash fires. That said, it doesn’t mean that the Volt is off the hook quite yet. The IIHS says that it has found that this issue can occur when the vehicle has been in a serious crash. According to Russ Rader, a spokesperson for IIHS, this discovery won’t change its ratings for crash testing. Rader…
Read MoreNew technology can prevent collisions at low speeds
A recent study funded by the auto insurance industry has shown that new technology installed into vehicles can make a significant difference in helping to prevent rear-end collisions and fender benders that occur at slow speeds such as in traffic jams. The research was performed by the Highway Loss Data Institute, the research branch of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It discovered that when a 2010 Volvo XC60 was fitted with a special technology feature called City Safety, which is designed for collision avoidance, the vehicles were much less…
Read MoreInsurance study shows red light cameras are saving lives
The findings by the institute, which is a nonprofit group funded by the insurance industry, states that in 14 of the largest cities in America, 159 lives were saved during the time-frame of 2004 to 2008 due to red-light cameras. The design of the camera is to capture motor vehicles that are running red lights. Researchers claim if they had been operating in all large cities in America during this time-frame, 815 lives would have been saved. Red-light crashes or T-bone crashes as they are often referred to are some…
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