[edit] Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
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A 2008 Dodge Avenger undergoing frontal crash testing. The 2008 model scored "G" or "Good."
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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) operates as a non-profit entity funded by the major United States auto insurance companies. The inception of the IIHS resulted from increases in traffic deaths during the 1950s and 1960s.
[edit] History and Expansion of the IIHS
Originating in 1959 as a research support body, the IIHS transferred into a full-fledged automotive safety institute 9 years later coinciding almost directly with the formation of the government-supported NHTSA. Under the guidance of Dr. William Huddon, who also served as the United States first highway safety chief, the IIHS began conducting its own research into a series of safety concerns.
As the IIHS expanded their role in vehicle safety, a separate organization became dedicated to information gathering. Called the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), this satellite organization focuses on collecting numerical data on automobile accidents.
Today, the IIHS is enjoying growth as a creditable automotive safety advocate.
[edit] Objectives for the IIHS and HLDI
Reducing losses on highways- The leading goal through the collective work of IIHS and HLDI experts is to develop solutions to minimize injuries or death through vehicle accidents. Research as well as data collection enables the institute to reach conclusions on improving accident avoidance and survival.
Minimize vehicle repair costs- Along with safety, the expansion of the IIHS through the 1970s was also to address the growing costs for vehicle repairs following accidents.
Educating the public on automotive safety- As a not for profit institute, information is structured to be available to other researchers, automakers, and the vehicle buyers.
[edit] Institute Research
Compiled by a number of professionally-trained experts, the IIHS studies the major type and factors for collisions. Topics such as impaired driving, photo radar, seat-belt use, and traffic infrastructure are analyzed through numerous published reports available free of charge. Amongst reports created by the IIHS reflects on insurance damage claims linked to particular vehicles. Identifying problem cars and trucks, the frequency of claims for vehicles can help in establishing insurance rates.
Through research conducted by the HLDI, it was concluded that Anti-lock brakes were not major factors in preventing vehicle accidents. Also, research by the IIHS also concluded electronic stability control systems are more successful in preventing accidents.
[edit] IIHS Crash Testing
Following suit with vehicle collision testing conducted by the NHTSA New Car Assessment, the IIHS has famously commits similar research for more than 30 years.
The organization first regular tests in the 1980s started by testing vehicle bumpers in low-speed impacts, analyzing their strength and overall cost of damage. These tests continue to be applied to categories of vehicles. Opening their vehicle research center in 1992, the IIHS became fully capable for staging their own crash tests for popular vehicles. The structure and the scope of the IIHS differs greatly from the NHTSA crash testing. While both automotive safety bodies carry out frontal impact testing on vehicles, the frontal test through the IIHS an offset crash into a barrier rather than squarely at a protective wall.
The vehicle research center also performs rear crash/whiplash protection tests examining head and neck reaction to a 20 mile per hour rear impact.
[edit] Vehicle Rating System
Through vehicle crash testing results (with exception to bumper results) as well as the presence of other safety features, vehicle are rated in the following order:
Good - Acceptance - Marginal - Poor
There is also a coveted Top Safety Pick designation offered to vehicles receiving a good rating in all three crash tests and is equipped with Electronic Stability Control.
[edit] Effectiveness of the IIHS
Unlike the federal NHTSA, the IIHS does not receive vehicle defect notices or has authority to request and enforce vehicle recalls. Though the IIHS lacks an ability to dictate change in automotive design, their research and testing has publicized the effectiveness of of some technologies. Thanks to the work of the IIHS, vehicle safety features such as side-impact airbags as well as electronic stability control are becoming widely available through new cars and SUVs.
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