If you are considering a new car purchase this year, it’s important to know which makes and models will keep you and your family safe in the event of a crash. The experts at the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) crash-test all makes and models of vehicles in various ways.
In order for a vehicle to be considered a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, each vehicle must pass these five categories:
- Moderate overlap frontal test – They run the car into a wall that, when hit, covers 40 percent of the front of the car.
- Small overlap frontal test – Same as the moderate overlap, but the wall covers 25 percent of the car when hit (example, hitting a telephone pole).
- Side test – They test side impact.
- Roof strength – They test the roof’s ability o hold its shape during a roll-over. The car needs to handle a force that’s at least four times its own weight, or a ratio of 4:1.
- Head restraint test – This is done to make sure your neck is protected in the event of an accident.
If a vehicle passes these requirements, it qualifies for Top Safety Pick + consideration. This prestigious award also adds the following:
- Front crash prevention – This tests the vehicle’s computers to see if they can prevent a frontal crash.
- Headlights – They make sure you can see a deer in the ditch from hundreds of yards away.
Need more vehicle protection? Give E. R. Munro and Company a call at 1-877-376-8676 to discuss your automobile insurance coverage and how we can help protect you.
