Thanks to improved safety features in cars, reforms against drunk driving, and safer roads, highway deaths have been decreasing significantly over the past few years. To prove this point, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety released the results of a study this week, and it shows that a record nine vehicle models from the 2011 model year have resulted in no deaths whatsoever.
IIHS’ report, which was released earlier today, shows that nine models have a zero death rate, including rather conventional vehicles such as the Subaru Legacy, the Mercedes-Benz GL, the Volvo XC90, the Kia Sorento 2WD, and the Honda Odyssey. These are not high-end products with sophisticated safety features, but they have nonetheless been the safest for the 2011 model year, with no deaths reported at all. And a lot of it has to do with the hard work of IIHS. “We know from our vehicle ratings program that crash test performance has been getting steadily better,” said IIHS vice president/chief research officer David Zuby in a statement. “These latest death rates provide new confirmation that real-world outcomes are improving, too.”
The IIHS report does corroborate the belief that today’s cars, trucks, and SUVs are safer than they were in the past. According to the report, there would have been 7,700 additional deaths in 2012 alone had these vehicles not gotten major safety upgrades. And to reiterate the earlier point, the IIHS has a lot to do with it. Its small offset crash test, which was introduced some years back, has been a great help, as it simulates what happens should two cars going in opposite directions clip each other, or when vehicles hit posts or other non-moving objects.