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IIHC Wants Car-Like Truck Bumpers, Has Never Seen Aftermarket
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) will today formally petition the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to consider bumper standards for light trucks which are more car-like. For the sake of argument, let's forget about that whole BlockerBeam system on Ford trucks, and how the difference in vehicle mass contributes to the damage as much as relative contact geometry. We also have to forget about retrofit diamond plate bumpers and grille guards, and lifted trucks too, but we're getting sidetracked by details. The core question is, "why would the IIHS be interested in seeing lower bumper standards on pickups and SUVs?" More »
safety
2008 Dodge Caravan Good Up Front, Can't Take It In The Rear
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) today released their interpretation of what happens after crashing the new Dodge Caravan a few times. The results? The newer Caravan gets a "good" for both frontal offset and side impact tests, an improvement over "average" and "poor" performances for the older models. But unlike the new Kia/Hyundai minivans and the new Honda Odyssey, the Caravan only received a "marginal" grade for the rear crash test, the second lowest score. This means that, if you're running around in a new Grand Caravan you should keep your eyes on the rearview mirror. [IIHS via KickingTires]
smart fortwo crash test
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2008 Smart ForTwo IIHS Crash Test Results In, Little Tyke Did "Good"
Although we've already seen the NHTSA crash tests and the leaked IIHS test video, the official Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash test results are finally in for the 2008 Smart ForTwo. It turns out the little bugger did pretty well. IIHS awarded the micro-machine its highest rating of "Good" for front and side crash protection, and an "Acceptable" rating for seat and head restraint performance in rear-end crashes. Mounting evidence like yesterday's Smart pinball challenge and this IIHS result is proving that yes, Joe American, the ForTwo is a real car that won't crumple like a tin can in a low-speed or mid-speed crash. Full results and crash images on page two.More »
2008 smart fortwo
2008 Smart Fortwo IIHS Crash Film Leaks To Web
Thanks to the NYT, we already knew the folks at NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) noted a "safety concern" after the driver's door on the new US-Spec 2008 Smart Fortwo popped open during a side-impact crash test. Although the little Smart got a five star rating for protecting the head and chest of the dummy we just learned a lot from, the door "issue" could potentially "increase the likelihood of occupant ejection." Ouch. Well, now IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) has taken a 40 MPH run at an offset barrier in the small-yet-feels-somehow-smaller Smart for the US market. Although the video and ratings haven't yet been made public, somehow the video of the crash has made it out in to the wilds of the web. More »
new york auto show
Ford Shows Off Demolished Taurus As Safety Movie Theater?
What to do with all of those cars smashed in federal and IIHS crash testing? In theory, you could take them back for further study to help improve safety for future vehicles. Of course, that would mean wasting an advertising opportunity. And while we prefer the RoboCop Taurus, we'll admit that showing a wrecked version of your car isn't the worst way to show off that the only major hazard that comes with driving a new Taurus is death-by-boredom. Press release after the jump.More »
1:00 PM on Mon Mar 24 2008
By Matt Hardigree
1,944 views,
13 comments
Latest by n/a: @ranwhenparked: Same here. I really, really like the new Taurus. I know I'll take some flak for this, but I like the styling. I'm a headlights and taillights guy, and I like these ones. Given the more »
news
IIHS Announces Top Safety Pick Awards for 2008
They of the smashed bumper over at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have announced their 2008 Top Safety Pick awards, and this year it comes in large pickup flavor! There were 34 top safety picks overall, including 11 new additions to the lineup. The first truck to make the list was the Toyota Tundra, which was beefed up with every safety feature Toyota could throw at it. Other notable additions include the Audi A3, Honda Element and Hyundai Veracruz. The full list and press release below the jump. More »
news
Safest Cars: Insurance Institute's Stability Control Requirement Hurts US Automakers' Safety Scores
This year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (HIMOM) won't even think about naming a car to its top safety list if it doesn't have stability control. Going nannyless is a dealbreaker, says the agency, which is lobbying for a Federal mandate for automakers to put stability control on all cars by 2012. That 's bad juju for domestic automakers, which are somewhat behind the Europeans on offering stability control, arguably a top-down technology that's only just begun trickling into cars costing below $25,000. It's the ABS debate all over again — with insurance companies' Cole Haans again placed at the necks of carmakers and consumers. Oh, please protect us, you all-knowing beings of the actuarial tables, we are not worthy of your attention. More »
news
Insurance Institute Hits Them From the Side; Resulting Headlines Top List of Most Obvious
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety apparently likes it like we do — releasing the results over the weekend of the 2006 side impact crashworthiness (we didn't even make that word up!) tests, and now we're treated to 75 articles in papers across the country all saying "Study: Side Air Bags Improve Safety." Well — umm — yeah, that's true, and thank you Associated Press for your hard work in making it clear to the whole world it's better to smack your head into a pillowy cushion of air than a piece of hard industra-plasti-vinyl with metal underneath. Geez. More »
news
IIHS Announces Top Safety Picks: Ford, Subaru, Saab, Honda Top List
NBC's Dateline again had the exclusive story on the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety's top safety picks for 2006 last night, with reporter Lea Thompson again cast in the role of safetymarm. The determining factor in both Silver and Gold categories was the inclusion of side curtain air bags, which help prevent noggin smackdowns during both frontal-offset and side-impact crashes. Separating Silver and Gold winners, however, were headrests sufficient to provide whiplash. Click through for results. More »
news
Minivans Without Side Airbags Perform Poorly on Side-Impact Tests
Note to mom: Don't be a cheapskate, spring for the side curtain air bags. Side-impact tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found 2006 Ford Freestar and Mazda MPV minivans without side air bags pretty much blow, as far as safety goes. Both vehicles received "poor" ratings on the test, which indicates the level of damage injuries that could be sustained during crashes at intersections. When equipped with side air bags, a $695 option on the Freestar and $400 on the MPV XL, both minivans received "acceptable," the second highest rating. Side air bags are standard on the Freestar's FoMoCo sibling, the Mercury Monterey, as well as the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.Related:
Minivans Receive Poor Crash-Test Ratings for Neck Injury [internal]
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