Drivers in Pennsylvania want to know about safety on the roads. When they test drive and buy cars, safety is often one of the leading factors in making a decision. Over time, cars have become much safer. Recently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded a record 90 new automobiles with top safety rating awards. Two key factors in the increase in top-rated cars include improved headlights and automatic brakes.
Understanding IIHS ratings
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS, is a private non-profit organization. They conduct crash tests and other evaluations on new cars. They have stringent criteria for the highest ratings they award, the Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+. These two categories include only automobiles that receive high scores in all categories during an evaluation.
IIHS ratings are useful for consumers in making buying decisions. Cars rated Good offer much more protection in front-end crashes than those rated Poor. Passengers in a car rated Good are 46% less likely to die in a motor vehicle accident. Usually, larger, heavier vehicles have an advantage in an MVA. They are less likely to see serious injuries or deaths when compared to smaller, lightweight vehicles.
Cars with high safety ratings may also help to prevent some crashes. This is due, in part, to active safety features. Many new cars offer features like traction control. Driver-assist technology, including collision warnings, lane departure warnings and adaptive cruise control also help to prevent MVAs on the road.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, it’s a good idea to contact a lawyer. A skilled attorney may be able to help you pursue a manufacturer for damages related to unsafe designs.