For decades, Consumer Reports has been at the forefront of advocating for automotive safety, collaborating closely with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to continually elevate safety standards in cars. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of the IIHS auto crash test facility in central Virginia. Our experts talk with David Aylor, the Vice President of Active Safety at IIHS, discussing the significance of crash safety and detailing the collaborative efforts between IIHS and Consumer Reports in advancing automotive safety standards.
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SHOW NOTES
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00:00 – Introduction
00:49 – Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
01:04 – Side Impact Crash Test
02:21 – How CR incorporates IIHS Data into the rating
03:16 – What is Car Safety
04:42 – Crash Avoidance Systems
07:25 – What is HLDI
08:47 – How CR and IIHS are raising the bar for car safety
10:05 – How our work benefits consumers
10:41 – IIHS ratings
12:05 – Understanding CR’s safety ratings
13:04 – Difference between IIHS and NHTSA
13:53 – How we are all working together for the consumer
15:08 – Looking forward
I’d like to see crash tests for 3rd row seat occupants in a rearend collision from 50+ mph. And roof strength for large SUV’s / Trucks like the Cadillac Escalade and the hummer EV
I want to see Cybertruck crash tests. 1. Cybertruck vs. pedestrian. Is it any worse than other trucks? Do the sharp edges make it worse? 2. Cybertruck head-on collision. Does it not have crumple zones? How does that affect people inside the Cybertruck. 3. Cybertruck vs. other cars. Does the stainless steel body harm other cars worse than conventional truck bodies?
It is amazing how much harder these test have become over the last 20 years with increased speeds and standards. Moderate Overlap Front Test (1995): The IIHS introduced the original moderate overlap front test. Side Crash Test (2021): In 2019, the IIHS modified the side crash test by using a heavier sled, changing the barrier design, and increasing the impact speed. 2024 Changes: For 2024, the IIHS combined day and night pedestrian front crash prevention evaluations into a single test. Additionally, the small overlap front crash test now considers both driver and passenger sides as a single category, with the lower of the two results determining the rating. 2025 Plans: In 2025, the IIHS will raise the bar further with more challenging criteria. The “plus” award will require a good rating in the updated moderate overlap crash test, while the regular Top Safety Pick will require an acceptable rating. They keep doing this so that fewer cars get the top rating as well as trying to compensate for the higher speeds people are driving at above the speed limit.
Nice to see the update that says that automatic braking actually has to work 😅