IIHS and HLDI News

Helmet laws for low-power cycles

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

IIHS has published a new state law table and interactive map of motorcycle helmet laws that cover low-power cycles, or LPCs. These include motor-driven cycles, mopeds, scooters, and various other 2-wheeled cycles that don�t meet IIHS�s definition of a motorcycle. While state laws vary, a cycle with an engine displacement of 50 cubic centimeters or less, brake horsepower of 2 or less, and top speeds of 30 mph or less typically is considered an LPC.

Twenty-two states have motorcycle helmet laws that cover all low-power cycles. Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia have laws that cover some low-power cycles.

Status Report: Vol. 44, No. 10

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

TOP SAFETY PICK winners for 2010 are vehicles on the highest rung for protecting people in front, side, rear, and now rollover crashes, too

Winners by vehicle class

Crash avoidance features gain traction with Infiniti and Volvo owners

Subaru improves bumpers on 2010 Legacy to earn acceptable rating

Animal crashes continue to rise, and so do costs of fixing the damage

27 winners of 2010 Top Safety Pick award; new requirement to win is good rating for protection in rollovers

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, VA — Nineteen cars and 8 SUVs earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award for 2010. For the first time, good performance in a roof strength test to measure protection in a rollover is required to win. Top Safety Pick recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rear, and now rollover crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests. Winners also must have electronic stability control, which research shows significantly reduces crash risk. This is the second time the Institute has tightened criteria since announcing the first recipients in 2005.

Rhode Island bans text messaging by all drivers

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Rhode Island joins 18 other states in banning text messaging by all drivers, effective Nov. 9, 2009. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

Subaru makes strides to lower repair costs

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Bumpers that don't bump, resulting in costly damage in what should be minor crashes, are the norm for cars evaluated in Institute low-speed crash tests. One exception is the redesigned 2010 Subaru Legacy. The Legacy's bumpers are a big improvement over those on its 2007-09 predecessor. The new Legacy earns an acceptable rating in a recent series of tests to assess and compare how well bumpers resist damage in everyday fender-benders. In contrast, the previous Legacy is rated poor in the same 4 tests. Fifteen out of 17 midsize cars evaluated by the Institute are rated marginal or poor for bumper protection.

"The Legacy's performance shows what automakers can do when they pay attention to damageability in low-speed crashes that happen every day in commuter traffic," says Joe Nolan, Institute senior vice president.

Feature article with photos

IIHS testifies before US House subcommittees on cellphone laws and distracted driving

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testified November 4 before a joint hearing of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection and the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet.

The cumulative evidence from various types of studies points toward cellphone use as a risk factor for crashes and impaired driving performance. While studies have reached different estimates of the magnitude of the risk, well-controlled research that verified phone use in large samples of crash-involved drivers found that the risk of crashing was 4 times higher when a driver was talking on either a hand-held or hands-free phone.

Seven states and the District of Columbia have banned hand-held cellphone use while driving, but the effects of these laws on hand-held use is mixed. Moreover, the effect on safety isn�t clear. Many drivers still use hand-held phones where use is banned, and other drivers may switch to hands-free devices, which doesn�t help, since the crash risk with either type of device is about the same. Preliminary data from insurance claims for collision suggest no apparent reduction in crash risk after states enacted hand-held bans.

Full text of testimony (PDF)

Status Report: Vol. 44, No. 9

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Cover story: cellphone laws

IIHS 50th anniversary celebration, featuring test comparing crashworthiness then and now

2010 Buick LaCrosse and 2010 Nissan Versa earn Top Safety Pick award

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse and the 2010 Nissan Versa are the Institute's newest Top Safety Pick award winners. 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 LaCrosse and optional on the Versa.

"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.

New Institute ratings for the Buick LaCrosse | Nissan Versa

Illinois allows low-speed vehicles on more roads

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Illinois will allow low-speed vehicles on any road with a posted limit of 30 mph or lower, effective January 2010. Previously, individual communities had to adopt laws to permit the use of low-speed vehicles on local roads. To compare low-speed vehicle laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/LowSpeedVehicles.aspx

3 midsize SUVs earn Top Safety Pick award

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The 2010 Cadillac SRX and the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, also sold as the GMC Terrain, are the Institute's newest Top Safety Pick award winners. 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 SRX, Equinox, and Terrain.

New Institute ratings for the Cadillac SRX | Chevrolet Equinox | GMC Terrain

Status Report: Vol. 44, No. 8

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Alcohol detection devices for all drivers garner widespread support

Regulating light truck bumpers gets a look-see from NHTSA

Amber is a better color than red for rear turn signals

Camera enforcement case summaries are available at iihs.org

Better truck brakes are on tap

Crash deaths continue to decline, though deaths of motorcyclists keep bucking the overall trend

New survey results: stop anyone impaired by alcohol from driving any vehicle, public says

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, VA — People are ready to prevent any driver from starting a vehicle after drinking too much alcohol, even though the technology to do it isn't available yet. Responding to a new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety survey, people across the nation said they like the idea of using advanced technology to stop drunk drivers from operating their vehicles. About 2 of 3 respondents deem this a good or very good idea, assuming the technology is reliable. More than 40 percent would want such devices in their own cars if offered as an option. Drinkers and nondrinkers alike favor the concept.

Updated auto insurance loss facts

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Comparative loss information under six coverages, from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI)

3 vehicles earn Top Safety Pick award

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

2010 models of the Dodge Journey, Lincoln MKT, and Mazda 3 are the Institute's newest Top Safety Pick award winners.

New Institute ratings for the Dodge Journey | Lincoln MKT | Mazda 3

37,261 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2008

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The Institute has updated Fatality Facts, an annual summary of fatal crash information from the federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

IIHS makes state law table and interactive map describing medium-speed vehicles available online

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

In September 2008, NHTSA denied a petition for rulemaking to create a new class of motor vehicles known as medium speed vehicles (MSV). The petitioners proposed that MSVs have a top speed of 35 mph and that they be held to less stringent safety standards than passenger cars. NHTSA, taking environmental and fuel consumption issues into consideration, denied the request due to increased risk of death and injury.

Despite NHTSA's denial of the petition, 9 states (Colorado, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington) have adopted a definition of "medium-speed vehicle (MSV)" and all except Colorado allow MSVs on specified portions of their public roads. Colorado's law states that medium-speed vehicles cannot be titled or registered until the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has adopted safety standards for vehicles that operate at greater than 25 mph but less than 45 mph.

For details, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/mediumspeedvehicles.aspx

New York strengthens booster seat law

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

New York joins 26 other states in requiring children at least 7 and younger to be in a booster seat, effective Nov. 24, 2009. For details on child restraint laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/childrestraint.aspx

New York strengthens graduated driver licensing law

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

New York has strengthened its GDL law by eliminating the limited school license, thereby requiring all young drivers to hold the learner's permit for at least 6 months. The supervised driving hour requirement has increased from 20 to 50 hours and the passenger restriction allows only one instead of two passengers. These changes become effective Feb. 22, 2010. For details, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/graduatedLicenseIntro.aspx

New York bans text messaging by all drivers

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

New York joins 17 other states in banning text messaging by all drivers, effective Nov. 1, 2009. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

2010 Subaru Legacy and Outback earn Top Safety Pick award

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The 2010 Subaru Legacy and Subaru Outback are the Institute's newest Top Safety Pick award winners.

New Institute ratings for the Subaru Legacy | Subaru Outback