Which Car is Safest? Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Knows For Sure

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety just announced their picks for the 2008 Safety Award winners, and there were some surprising results.

Thirty-four vehicles were selected as top safety picks for 2008, up from just 13 last year. Ford and Honda had the most spots on the list, while the Toyota Tundra claimed the title of the first pickup truck to earn the IIHS designation.

The goal of the IIHS is to reduce or eliminate accidents and injuries from accidents. To qualify for a Safety Award in 2008, each vehicle must have electronic stability control, perform well in frontal and side impact crash tests, and have well designed seat and head restraints for rear crash protection. Federal law will require all vehicles to have electronic stability control (EHS) by 2012, but many manufacturers are making it a standard feature now, which significantly impacted the number for Safety Award winners. Experts believe that EHS can reduce single vehicle fatal accidents by over 50%. What a great reason to get a new vehicle with that feature!

A critical factor in auto insurance rates is how well it performs during a crash including protecting the occupants and the cost of repairs. Before you buy your next vehicle, see what the IIHS has to say about it first. This simple step can help you save a lot on car insurance premiums, but, more importantly, can help keep you and your family safe during an accident.