Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Formation	1959
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Arlington, Virginia
President	David Harkey

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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a U.S. nonprofit organization that was established in 1959. The IIHS is dedicated to reducing the number of motor vehicle crashes and the rate of injuries and fatalities associated with these incidents. The organization conducts research and produces ratings for various vehicles based on their safety performance in crash tests.

History[edit | edit source]

The IIHS was founded in 1959 by three major insurance associations. The organization initially focused on research related to highway safety and the prevention of motor vehicle crashes. Over the years, the IIHS has expanded its scope to include vehicle crashworthiness, crash avoidance, and roadway design.

Research and Testing[edit | edit source]

The IIHS conducts extensive research and testing to evaluate the safety of vehicles. The organization operates the Vehicle Research Center (VRC) in Ruckersville, Virginia, where it performs crash tests and other safety evaluations. The IIHS uses a variety of crash test scenarios, including frontal impact, side impact, and rollover tests, to assess vehicle safety.

Crashworthiness[edit | edit source]

Crashworthiness refers to how well a vehicle protects its occupants in the event of a crash. The IIHS evaluates crashworthiness through a series of tests, including:

Moderate overlap frontal test
Small overlap frontal test
Side impact test
Roof strength test
Head restraint test

Crash Avoidance[edit | edit source]

In addition to crashworthiness, the IIHS also evaluates crash avoidance technologies. These technologies are designed to prevent crashes from occurring in the first place. Some of the systems tested by the IIHS include:

Forward collision warning
Automatic emergency braking
Lane departure warning
Lane keeping assist

Ratings[edit | edit source]

The IIHS assigns ratings to vehicles based on their performance in crash tests and the effectiveness of their crash avoidance technologies. The ratings range from "Good" to "Poor" for crashworthiness and "Basic" to "Superior" for crash avoidance. Vehicles that perform exceptionally well in all tests may receive the IIHS's highest award, the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+.

Advocacy and Education[edit | edit source]

The IIHS is also involved in advocacy and education efforts to promote highway safety. The organization works with policymakers, industry leaders, and the public to raise awareness about the importance of vehicle safety and to encourage the adoption of effective safety measures.