By Dave Bean, Editor, FMW
November 29, 2023
We count on the IIHS for trusted reports on vehicle safety all-year-round, based upon their rigorous crash tests and thorough data analysis. As we enter the holiday season, complete with its saturation of automotive advertising, it’s worth reviewing some of the most salient IIHS vehicle shopping observations, especially if you are in the market for a car or truck, new or used. Whether purchasing a new ride for yourself or a loved one, it’s always worth remembering to think of safety first.
While we all tend to get sidetracked by the look and feel of a vehicle, there’s more to its design than just sleek lines and a smooth ride. In this era, it’s important to keep in mind those safety features that can mitigate damage to drivers and passengers in the event of a crash.
A key factor to consider is the weight of a vehicle. Quite simply, smaller, lighter cars offer far less protection to its occupants than bigger, heavier ones. You need more metal surrounding you to protect you and your riders from the reverberation of an impact, whether that be with another vehicle or a stationary object. When considering a vehicle purchase, according to the IIHS, bigger is better from a safety perspective.
Along with the size of a vehicle, it’s also wise to consider how well a vehicle is designed to absorb the energy inflicted by a significant impact. If the force of a crash is not mitigated by well-designed, well-tested crumple zones, it is free to enter the vehicle cabin and impose serious injury to occupants. Fortunately, crash test results for most vehicle segments are readily available on the IIHS website.
Also readily available, in this era of vehicle technology development, are crash avoidance features that were once only available on high-end luxury cars. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are now quite commonplace on vehicles in all segments and price points. Some of the most common ADAS features include:
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- Pedestrian detection/avoidance
- Lane departure warning/correction
- Traffic sign recognition
- Automatic emergency braking
- Blind spot detection
Here are some useful resources to assist vehicle shoppers in their quest during the holiday season or all-year-round:
