Staying safe on the road may start at the dealership.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released its list of the best vehicles to be driving to avoid accidents and survive them. It includes their top safety picks and top safety picks plus.
"Both of those awards require you get good ratings in all six of our crash worthiness tests that we perform,” said David Harkey, the President of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Criteria also includes a vehicle's ability to avoid other vehicles and pedestrians…and one other safety factor.
"You have to have good or acceptable headlights for either award,” said Harkey.
David Harkey says the institute values headlights because when the sun goes down, the risk on the road goes up.
"They help you see further down the roadway,” said Harkey. “They help you see more of the roadside, they help you pick up on obstacles sooner, in the hopes of avoiding a crash."
64 cars and SUVs were named a top safety pick by the institute; 23 qualify for top safety pick plus. There could be more good news down the road as technology improves.
"Lane departure systems, lane warning systems, blind spot assist,” said Harkey. “We're constantly looking for those systems to figure out how much of a safety benefit they offer."
The benefits may include new ways to steer clear of trouble. The institute says no minivans or pickups were named top safety picks this year.
To check out the complete list go to https://www.iihs.org/
