The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) annually identifies the safest vehicles available for sale in the United States by conducting tests focused on safety aspects of the vehicle, and then provides ratings based on the test results. There are two main safety aspects that the IIHS assesses:
- Crash avoidance and crash mitigation. Crash avoidance and mitigation refers to technology that prevents an accident from happening in the first place. Crash avoidance and mitigation is assessed based on the type of crash prevention systems that are used in a vehicle.
- Crashworthiness. Crashworthiness refers to the ability of the vehicle to protect occupants during an accident. Five tests are used to determine the crashworthiness, which include roof strength, head restraints, side, small overlap front, and moderate overlap front.
IIHS awards vehicles with one of two ratings:
- Top Safety Pick. A rating as a Top Safety Pick is given when a vehicle earns a good or moderate rating for crashworthiness in the roof strength, head restraints, side, and moderate overlap front tests, as well as a good or acceptable rating for the small overlap front test.
- Top Safety Pick Plus. A Top Safety Pick Plus rating is earned when a vehicle meets the requirements for a Top Safety Pick rating, but additionally earns a rating superior or advanced for front crash prevention.
Top Five Safest Cars 2016
The top five safest vehicles for 2016 according to the IIHS include the following:
- 2016 Mazda 6. The 2016 Mazda 6 earned a Top Safety Pick Plus rating from the IIHS because this vehicle scored an advanced rating for front crash protection and a good rating for each of the five crash tests. The Mazda 6 has anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and a rollover sensor that deploys side curtain airbags during a rollover.
- 2016 Volkswagen Golf. The new Volkswagen Golf offers drivers crash prevention technology such as forward collision warning and low-speed autobrake, in addition to its good test performance on the five standard crashworthiness tests, and includes a rollover sensor, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control.
- 2016 Fiat 500x. The Fiat 500X, which is a small SUV, earned a Top Safety Pick Plus rating for its front collision detection system, which earned an advanced rating, and performed well on all crashworthiness tests.
- 2016 Audi Q5. The 2016 Audi Q5 offers low-speed autobrake and a forward crash warning system crash prevention technologies that earned the Q5 a Top Safety Pick Plus rating. The Q5 also includes a rollover sensor, electromechanical parking brake, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system.
- 2016 Audi Q3. The 2016 Audi Q3 earned a Top Safety Pick rating for its performance in the five standard crashworthiness tests, and includes anti-lock brakes, a rollover sensor and electronic stability control.
Safety is critical to preventing automobile accidents. If you are injured in an automobile accident, the lawyers at the Ladah injury law firm in Las Vegas can assist you in building a strong personal injury action. Contact us at (702) 252-0055 and schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with us.