The IIHS-HLDI Strategic Plan, 2025-29
Executive summary
U.S. road fatalities have shot up 30% in under a decade, erasing years of progress. A concerted effort is needed to reverse this trend and stop the needless loss of life. As we map out the next five years, we are declaring our vision for a 30% reduction in road deaths by 2030.
The Institutes will work toward the 30x30 vision by focusing on three areas — reducing risky behavior, accelerating commercial vehicle safety and extending safety to everyone. For each of these areas, we have identified multiple strategies that align with our strengths and resources.
Focus area 1
Reducing risky behavior
Alcohol impairment, speeding, distraction, failure to use seat belts and other types of risky behavior are chief contributors to the road safety problem. We can work with policymakers, transportation professionals, the auto industry and consumers to promote solutions.
Strategy 1
Develop tools and research that are useful for advocates and practitioners working to change road users’ behavior.
Strategy 2
Cultivate partnerships that can broaden our influence around reducing risky behavior.
Strategy 3
Research and promote vehicle features that can improve driver behavior.
Focus area 2
Accelerating commercial vehicle safety
In 2022, 5,502 lives were lost in crashes involving large trucks or light vans. We can help promote crash avoidance technology and other lifesaving features by leveraging our expertise and experience in the passenger vehicle market.
Strategy 1
Investigate and promote crash avoidance and passive protective features on commercial motor vehicles.
Strategy 2
Contribute research to improve commercial vehicle fleet operations and practices.
Focus area 3
Extending safety to everyone
The victims of motor vehicle crashes include all types of people using all modes of transportation, including walking, riding and driving. Fatal crashes involving vulnerable road users (pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists) rose 49% from 2014 to 2022, an even steeper increase than the 30% rise in total traffic fatalities. Meanwhile, vehicle occupants vary widely in their risk of injury due to variations in age, sex, size and economic resources, and vehicle testing must take that into account.
Strategy 1
Promote improved occupant protection across the full population.
Strategy 2
Research and promote vehicle solutions that reduce the risk to vulnerable road users.
Strategy 3
Through our testing programs, promote the development of crash avoidance systems relevant to a broader range of scenarios.
Strategy 4
Promote road design and infrastructure as well as laws and policies that enhance safety of vulnerable road users.
Organizational excellence
Maximizing our impact toward the 30x30 vision requires maintaining our strengths and cultivating new ones. Over the next five years, we will seek new ways to promote the IIHS-HLDI brand and develop an internal structure to help translate IIHS-HLDI research into action. We will continue our high level of engagement with our membership and with the auto insurance industry at large. Safeguarding our intellectual property and our members’ confidential information and enabling our staff to thrive and develop will also remain key priorities.