TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT: Crash avoidance systems earn high marks from IIHS

Aug. 27, 2015

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested collision-avoidance systems on 19 new car models.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested collision-avoidance systems on 19 new auto models and granted its highest rating of “superior” to 14 of them. The remaining five were considered “advanced,” which is the institute’s second-highest designation.

“We've seen an uptick in the number of luxury and mainstream models with available autobrake,” said Dave Zuby, chief research officer for IIHS. “That's a welcome sign for highway safety and helps pave the way for the eventual deployment of fully autonomous vehicles.”

Among the “superior” rated vehicles are the BMW X3, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Acura MDX, as well as seven mass-market models, including the Mazda 6 and Chrysler 300, both of which offer technology designed to prevent front-end collisions.

The IIHS tests measure the amount of time it takes a vehicle to stop while traveling at speeds of 12 miles per hour and 25 miles per hour. As the vehicles approach a barrier that resembles the back of an SUV, their crash-prevention systems engage, alerting the driver to brake. Some of the models also feature technology that automatically forces a vehicle to brake to avoid a crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board estimates approximately 1,700 people are killed in rear-end crashes every year, with another 500,000 injured in such accidents. The board called for collision-avoidance technology to be mandated as a standard feature in every new vehicle, a measure that has endured perhaps expected resistance from the auto industry.

According to IIHS statistics, forward collision-warning systems are currently an option in half of the 784 new models being sold in 2015, yet only 27% of all new models offer collision-avoidance systems that will automatically brake to prevent a rear-end crash.

Sponsored Recommendations

The Science Behind Sustainable Concrete Sealing Solutions

Extend the lifespan and durability of any concrete. PoreShield is a USDA BioPreferred product and is approved for residential, commercial, and industrial use. It works great above...

Powerful Concrete Protection For ANY Application

PoreShield protects concrete surfaces from water, deicing salts, oil and grease stains, and weather extremes. It's just as effective on major interstates as it is on backyard ...

Concrete Protection That’s Easy on the Environment and Tough to Beat

PoreShield's concrete penetration capabilities go just as deep as our American roots. PoreShield is a plant-based, eco-friendly alternative to solvent-based concrete sealers.

Proven Concrete Protection That’s Safe & Sustainable

Real-life DOT field tests and university researchers have found that PoreShieldTM lasts for 10+ years and extends the life of concrete.