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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an important part of car safety. Along with The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), these organizations make the roads safer for drivers in all cars, trucks, and SUVs. With brands like Kia and Hyundai improving every year, the IIHS had a big hand in that.

What does the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety do?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing a Toyota Crown
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing | IIHS

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an organization dedicated to reducing injuries and deaths on the roads due to vehicle crashes. The IIHS uses research, evaluation, and education to help consumers and safety professionals stay safe on the roads.

Like the IIHS, the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) is a partner organization that focuses on using scientific studies and data to help educate people.

Founded in 1971, HLDI focuses on analyzing insurance coverage. Based on collision, property damage liability, and personal injury protection coverage. Medical payment, bodily injury liability, and comprehensive insurance claims are also included. HLDI collects data about insurance claims and analyzes the data to help car buyers make more informed decisions.

The IIHS and HLDI work together by publishing insurance results by all of the various car makes and models. That helps keep the roads safer for everyone.

The history of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

Insurance associations founded the IIHS in 1959. Initially, the focus of the company was to support highway safety efforts. William Haddon Jr., M.D. reorganized the IIHS into an independent research organization in 1969. Haddon Jr. became the first highway safety chief. He helped the IIHS lead the way in crash prevention by using science to help reduce crashes and deaths.

In his research, Haddon found that many issues arose from a few factors. Teenage drivers, driving under the influence, truck driver fatigue, and a lack of seat belts.

The research focused on crash prevention and the crashes themselves. The IIHS eventually expanded to include the Vehicle Research Center (VRC). In addition to this, the IIHS helped create safer roads due to environmental factors and the elimination of roadside hazards. In conclusion, if you like driving on safe roads, you can thank this group!

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick award

You have probably heard the phrase Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick at some point. However, what does it mean?

“With these awards, we want to make it easy for consumers to find vehicles that provide good protection in crashes, sufficient lighting and effective front crash protection,”

David Harkey | IIHS President

For instance, Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis secured the most awards as a brand this year. In addition, the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna both qualified for the IIHS Top Safety Pick. The Ram 1500 Crew Cab was the only pickup truck to get an award. In addition, it was also the only award for Stellantis.

Some of the other cars on the list include the Honda Accord, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, and the Ford Explorer. You can browse all of the top safety picks on the IIHS site. In other words, by picking a car on the IIHS Top Safety Pick list, you can ensure that it is a reliable choice.

In conclusion, the IIHS and HLDI are excellent organizations that help drivers select safer cars. Additionally, drivers can take those safer cars on safer roads.

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