Correlation Identified Between Roof Strength, Vehicle Safety

If your SUV has a strong roof, you are much more likely to survive a roll-over crash. That’s the new finding announced yesterday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This is big news, considering that 59% of all deaths in SUV’s involve roll-overs.

The IIHS studied data from 12 states to reach its conclusions, and estimates that 200 lives a year could be saved by strengthening roof requirements. Additionally a huge number of serious, long-term injuries could also be avoided.

Experts from the manufacturers, other organizations, and the government will argue these results for months, but in the meantime the impact for consumers could be huge. Right now actuaries at insurance companies across the country are starting to incorporate these results in their risk forecasts for each of the vehicles identified in the IIHS report.

People owning 2000-2004 Nissan Xterra’s or 2002-2005 Jeep Liberty’s can celebrate that their vehicle’s top performance could lead to a rate reduction because of a lower likelihood of injury or death in a roll over crash.

Conversely, owners of Jeep Grand Cherokees or Ford Explorers may find their insurance goes up a little, since the roofs on these cars fared among the worst performers.

If you’re planning to buy an SUV, new or used, keep these findings in mind because they absolutely will affect your auto insurance rates, but more importantly, they could make a difference in keeping your family safe while you drive. Check out the complete Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Roll Over Report before you make your final decision