IIHS & HLDI news: 2008

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) submitted a petition (PDF) to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for reconsideration of the final rule allowing commercial motor vehicle drivers to drive and work longer hours. FMCSA has failed to respond fully or accurately to comments submitted by IIHS and other safety organizations showing that the proposed rule would have an adverse effect on safety. By failing to address these comments, the agency again has failed to fulfill its mission to improve the safety of truck drivers and those sharing the road with them.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) submitted a comment (PDF) to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) supporting a requirement that will facilitate enforcement of state helmet laws by making counterfeit labels used on novelty helmets easy to distinguish from legitimate certifications. It also would reduce the potential for consumers to mistake novelty helmets with counterfeit labels for certified helmets.

Read the Institute regulatory comment (PDF)

Read the Institute regulatory comment (PDF)

A wealth of research published in scientific journals indicates that camera enforcement reduces red light violations and injury crashes. Results of a study commissioned by the Virginia Transportation Research Council (Garber et al., 2007) appear to contradict the earlier research, but there are significant methodological issues with the study by Garber et al. The methods of analysis and quality of the data, particularly the data on traffic volumes at intersections with and without cameras, do not support a valid evaluation of red light cameras. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has reviewed the study by Garber et al., highlighting its deficiencies and the weaknesses of its conclusions. The upshot is that Garber's study cannot provide any useful guidance to communities considering the use of red light cameras.

Read the Institute study in full (PDF)

Updated Fatality Facts 2007 — statistics about the motor vehicle safety picture in 2007, the most recent year for which fatality data are available.

HLDI bulletin (PDF): Motorcycle Antilock Braking System (ABS)

Research paper (PDF): Effectiveness of antilock braking systems in reducing fatal motorcycle crashes

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) submitted a comment (PDF) to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) objecting to its proposal to rescind the federal standard on windshield zone intrusion because of its success and redundancy with other standards. The comment refutes the agency's conclusions and emphasizes the necessity of retaining the standard to ensure occupant protection in future vehicles sold in the United States.

The GMC Acadia, a large SUV, also is sold as the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and Saturn Outlook. To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control. Criteria to win are tough because the award is intended to drive continued safety improvements such as top crash test ratings and the rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard on the Acadia.

"Recognizing vehicles at the head of the class for safety helps consumers distinguish the best overall choices without having to sort through multiple test results," says Institute president Adrian Lund.

The Top Safety Pick designation applies to 2008-09 Acadia, Enclave, and Outlook models built after March, 2008, and the new for 2009 Traverse.

New Institute ratings for the GMC Acadia | Buick Enclave | Chevrolet Traverse | Saturn Outlook

The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) submitted a comment (PDF) to Transport Canada concerning amendments to its vehicle identification number (VIN) requirements. The comment addresses concerns raised in HLDI's petition (June 12, 2008; PDF) to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to ensure unique VINs for motorcycles and for pickup trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings of 10,000 pounds or less. Lack of unique VINs will make it difficult to determine the on-road experience and safety of particular motorcycles and whether the VINs for some pickups comply with the old or new requirements.

Latest Institute ratings for the Mazda 6

Verification ratings are based on 40 mph frontal offset crash tests conducted by manufacturers for vehicles meeting requirements established by the Institute.

Latest Institute ratings for the Nissan Maxima

Verification ratings are based on 40 mph frontal offset crash tests conducted by manufacturers for vehicles meeting requirements established by the Institute.