IIHS & HLDI news: 2010

The 2010 Nissan Xterra, Toyota FJ Cruiser, and Toyota 4Runner earn acceptable ratings, while the Nissan Pathfinder is rated marginal in recent roof strength tests that assess how well vehicles would protect people in rollover crashes.

In this test a metal plate is pushed against one corner of a vehicle's roof at a constant speed. The maximum force sustained by the roof before 5 inches of crush is compared to the vehicle's weight to find the strength-to-weight ratio. This is a good assessment of vehicle structural protection in rollover crashes.

Good rated vehicles have roofs that can withstand a force equal to at least 4 times the vehicle's weight. For an acceptable rating, the minimum required strength-to-weight ratio is 3.25. A marginal rating value is 2.5. Anything lower than that is poor.

The 2011 Cadillac CTS and Infiniti M37/M56 earn the top rating of good in recent roof strength tests that assess how well vehicles would protect people in rollover crashes. The Lexus GS and Audi A6, both tested as 2010 models, are rated acceptable, and the Acura RL, also a 2010, is rated marginal for rollover protection.

After the latest roof strength tests, the CTS and M37/M56 also earn the Institute's Top Safety Pick award with good ratings in all 4 Institute safety evaluations, and electronic stability control, which research shows can help drivers stay out of crashes altogether.

"The test results show that manufacturers are moving quickly to improve the rollover safety of their newest designs," says Institute president Adrian Lund.

The BMW 5 series, Hyundai Genesis, Lincoln MKS, Mercedes E class, and Volvo S80 also are Top Safety Pick winners in the large luxury class based on test results released earlier.

The Institute evaluates rollover protection using a roof strength test. In this test a metal plate is pushed against one corner of a vehicle's roof at a constant speed. The maximum force sustained by the roof before 5 inches of crush is compared to the vehicle's weight to find the strength-to-weight ratio. This is a good assessment of vehicle structural protection in rollover crashes. Good rated vehicles have roofs that can withstand a force equal to at least 4 times the vehicle's weight.

The Cadillac SRX, a midsize luxury SUV, earns the Institute's top safety designation after getting a good rating for rollover protection. The SRX had previously earned good ratings for front, side, and rear crash protection.

Top Safety Pick recognizes the vehicles that earn the highest ratings in all 4 Institute safety evaluations, and that have electronic stability control, which is standard on the SRX.

Based on research of real-world crashes, the Institute evaluates rollover protection using a roof strength test. In this test a metal plate is pushed against one corner of a vehicle's roof at a constant speed. The maximum force sustained by the roof before 5 inches of crush is compared to the vehicle's weight to find the strength-to-weight ratio. This is a good assessment of vehicle structural protection in rollover crashes. Good rated vehicles have roofs that can withstand a force equal to at least 4 times the vehicle's weight.

The roof of the '10 SRX withstood a force equal to 4.14 times weight. For comparison, the current federal standard is 1.5 times weight.

General Motors strengthened the roof structure of the SRX during the 2010 model year. The Top Safety Pick award applies to models built after May 2010.

After earning good ratings in all 4 safety evaluations, the redesigned BMW 5 series achieves Top Safety Pick status among large cars. This is the first 5 series ever to earn the Top Safety Pick award, and the first BMW to achieve this since the Institute implemented a new rollover test requirement.

Top Safety Pick recognizes the vehicles that earn the highest ratings for front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection, and that have electronic stability control, which is standard on the 5 series.

The good rating for side impact protection is a significant improvement over the previous generation 5, which was rated only marginal in the same test. The Institute's side impact test represents a strike from an SUV or pickup.

After earning a good rating for rollover protection, the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer earns the Institute's Top Safety Pick award. The Lancer, a small car, is the first Mitsubishi to qualify for the top safety designation since the Institute implemented the new rollover test.

Top Safety Pick recognizes the vehicles that earn the highest rating for front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection, and that have electronic stability control, which is standard on the Lancer.

Based on research of real-world crashes, the Institute evaluates rollover protection using a roof strength test. In this test a metal plate is pushed against one corner of a vehicle's roof at a constant speed. The maximum force sustained by the roof before 5 inches of crush is compared to the vehicle's weight to find the strength-to-weight ratio. This is a good assessment of vehicle structural protection in rollover crashes. Good rated vehicles have roofs that can withstand a force equal to at least 4 times the vehicle's weight. For comparison, the current federal standard is 1.5 times weight.

Delaware joins 8 other states in banning the use of hand-held phones by all drivers and 29 other states in banning text messaging by all drivers, effective Jan. 2, 2011. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

Massachusetts joins 28 other states in banning text messaging by all drivers, effective Sept. 30, 2010. Additionally, drivers younger than 18 are banned from using all phones. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

Louisiana joins 23 other states with a primary enforcement texting ban allowing officers to cite drivers solely for texting, effective August 15, 2010. Four other states have secondary all driver texting bans.

Details on cellphone and texting bans in all states

The 2010 Lexus HS 250h, a midsize luxury hybrid, earns a good rating for side impact protection and an acceptable rating for roof strength in rollover crashes. The HS 250h also is rated good for frontal crash protection based on a test conducted earlier.

The 2010 Suzuki Kizashi, a midsize moderately priced car, earns an acceptable rating for roof strength in rollover crashes. This model will be evaluated for front and side crash protection later this year.

Based on new rollover test results the 2010 Audi A4 and Q5, Ford Flex and Fusion (twins Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ), Hyundai Tucson, Lincoln MKT, and Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen earn the Institute's Top Safety Pick award.

Each vehicle earns the highest rating of good for roof strength in rollover crashes. To measure roof strength, a metal plate is pushed against one corner of a vehicle's roof at a constant speed. The maximum force sustained by the roof before 5 inches of crush is compared to the vehicle's weight to find the strength-to-weight ratio. This is a good assessment of vehicle structural protection in rollover crashes. Good rated vehicles have roofs that can withstand a force equal to at least 4 times the vehicle's weight. For comparison, the current federal standard is 1.5 times weight.

Top Safety Pick recognizes the vehicles that earn the highest rating of good for front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection, and that have electronic stability control, which is standard on all of these models. Earlier this year Ford made changes to the roof structures of the Flex, Fusion, and MKT. The award applies to Flex models built after January 2010, Fusions built after April 2010, MKTs built after March 2010.

Oklahoma joins 27 other states in banning cellphone use by young drivers, effective November 1, 2010. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

Colorado joins 27 other states requiring children 7 years and younger to ride in a child restraint or a booster seat, effective Aug. 1, 2010. The previous law required booster seats only for children 4 and 5 years of age. Additionally, children younger than 1 year must ride restrained in the rear seat. As of June 3, 2010, Georgia will require occupants of pickup trucks to wear safety belts. Vermont has a secondary adult belt law but has increased the ages covered by the primary child restraint law from 15 years and younger to 17 years and younger, effective June 1, 2010.

For details on safety belt use laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/SafetyBeltUse.aspx

Georgia joins 27 other states in banning text messaging by all drivers, effective July 1, 2010. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

Vermont joins 26 other states in banning text messaging by all drivers, effective June 1, 2010. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

Kansas joins 30 other states with primary enforcement of the safety belt use law, effective June 10, 2010. With the addition of Kansas, the belt laws in 25 states cover all rear occupants, too. To compare safety belt laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/SafetyBeltUse.aspx

New Hampshire has loosened its night driving restrictions for young beginning drivers. Starting Jan. 1, 2011, drivers covered under GDL are barred from driving between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., compared with 1-5 a.m. previously. For details on licensing laws for young drivers, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/graduatedLicenseIntro.aspx

Kansas joins 25 other states in banning text messaging by all drivers, effective July 1, 2010. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

Based on new rollover test results the 2011 Toyota Avalon and Sienna, and the 2010 Lexus RX are the latest vehicles to earn the Institute's Top Safety Pick award. The award recognizes the vehicles that earn the highest rating of good for front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection, and that have electronic stability control, which is standard on all three of these models.

Redesigned for the '11 model year, the Sienna is the first minivan to earn the Institute's top safety designation since good performance for rollover protection was added to the criteria for 2010.

Maryland joins 9 other states with laws specifically regulating the use of medium-speed vehicles on public roads, effective Oct. 1, 2010. In Maryland, a medium-speed vehicle is defined as having a maximum speed capability of greater than 25 mph but less than 55 mph and they may only use roads posted 5 mph higher than its maximum speed capability. To compare medium-speed vehicle laws in all states go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/mediumspeedvehicles.aspx

Maryland joins 7 other states in banning hand-held cellphone use by all drivers, effective October 1, 2010. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

Where's the safest place for a child in a car? What kind of seat? How to use it? These and more questions answered.

Q&A: Child passenger safety

Florida joins nine other states with laws granting state-wide authority for the use of red light cameras, effective July 1, 2010. An additional sixteen states are using red light cameras under state laws that limit their use to specific locations or by local ordinances. For details on automated enforcement laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/automated_enforcement.aspx

The Hyundai Genesis and the redesigned Mercedes E class, both large luxury cars, earn 2010 Top Safety Pick awards. The award recognizes the vehicles that earn the top rating of good for front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection, and that have electronic stability control, which is standard on both of these cars.

The Genesis was introduced in the 2009 model year. During the 2010 model year, Hyundai made changes to the roof structure to improve protection in rollover crashes. The Top Safety Pick award applies to Genesis models built after January 2010.

The E class was redesigned for the 2010 model year. This is the first time the E class has earned the Institute's top safety designation. Earlier this year design changes were made to the padding in the front and rear doors to improve protection in side impact crashes. The Top Safety Pick award applies to E class models built after April 2010.

Oklahoma joins 17 other states in banning cellphone use by bus drivers, effective November 1, 2010. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

Wisconsin joins 24 other states in banning text messaging by all drivers, effective December 1, 2010. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

The redesigned 2010 Toyota 4Runner, a midsize SUV, earns a good rating for side impact protection with standard side airbags.

Alabama tightened the GDL passenger restriction from 3 to only 1 passenger, effective July 1, 2010. Additionally, the state has banned all cellphone use, including text messaging, by young drivers. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx; for details on licensing laws for young drivers, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/graduatedLicenseIntro.aspx

Iowa requires all children age 17 and younger riding in passenger vehicles to be restrained, effective July 1, 2010. Previously, children 11 years and older were not covered in the rear seat. For details on safety belt use laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/SafetyBeltUse.aspx

The Kia Forte is the third model from Hyundai/Kia to earn the Institute's top safety designation for 2010 (Kia Soul and Hyundai Sonata are the other winners). To win, vehicles must earn the top rating of good for front, side, rollover, and rear impact protection and have electronic stability control (ESC), which is standard on the Forte.

The Forte, a new small car introduced for the 2010 model year, replaces the Kia Spectra. The Spectra was rated acceptable for frontal crash protection and only marginal for side crash protection. ESC wasn't available even as an option on the Spectra.

Kia made changes to the Forte to earn good ratings in the Institute's front and side tests (see test details). The Top Safety Pick award applies to Fortes built after October 2009.

Kentucky and Nebraska join 21 other states in banning text messaging by all drivers, effective summer 2010. Kentucky also has banned novice drivers from using any wireless communications device. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

Iowa joins 20 state in banning text messaging by all drivers and 22 other states in banning novice drivers from using any wireless communications device, effective July 2010. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

Washington joins 21 other states in banning novice drivers from using any wireless communications device, effective June 2010. Washington's current ban on text messaging and the use of hand-held phones by all drivers will be strengthened from a secondary to a primary law, meaning an officer will no longer need another reason to stop a vehicle. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

Washington will allow medium-speed vehicles on roads with a posted limit of 45 mph or lower in island counties connected by ferry, effective June 2010. Previously, medium-speed vehicles were restricted to roads with a posted limit of 35 mph or less. To compare medium-speed vehicle laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/mediumspeedvehicles.aspx

Wyoming joins 19 other states in banning text messaging by all drivers, effective July 1, 2010. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

The redesigned 2011 Infiniti M37/M56, a large luxury car, earns good ratings for front and side crash protection. The previous generation of the M earned good ratings in the same tests.

The new 2010 Lexus HS 250h, a midsize hybrid model derived from the Toyota Prius, earns a good rating for frontal crash protection.

The redesigned Toyota 4Runner, a midsize SUV, also is rated good for frontal crash protection.

Nebraska joins 14 other states in permitting the use of minitrucks on specific portions of the public road, effective January 1, 2011. Minitrucks may travel on most roads at the posted speed limit, but they are not permitted on interstates, freeways, or expressways. To compare minitruck laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/minitrucks.aspx

Virginia will raise speed limits on certain interstate highways from 65 to 70 mph starting July 1, 2010, following a traffic engineering study. Virginia joins 32 other states with limits of 70 mph or higher. To compare speed limits in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/speedlimits.aspx

The Scion xB and Toyota Corolla bring to seven the number of small cars consumers have to choose from that earn the Institute's highest safety designation. To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, rollover, and rear impact tests and be equipped with electronic stability control.

The xB and Corolla are the first Toyota models to earn Top Safety Pick since the Institute tightened the criteria to win by adding the new rollover test for 2010.

To earn a good rollover rating, a roof has to support the equivalent of 4 times the vehicle's weight compared with the current federal standard of 1.5. In the Institute's test, the xB's roof withstood a force equal to 6.8 times the car's weight. The Corolla's roof supported 5.1 times the car's weight.

Read more about the Institute's rollover test here: http://www.iihs.org/ratings/roof/information.html

The xB and Corolla also earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick award.

"Top Safety Pick recognizes the vehicles that afford buyers the best overall protection in common crashes," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "With more top performers, there's no reason to buy a small car with less than stellar crash test ratings."

The 2010 Hyundai Elantra improves from marginal to good for side impact protection. Hyundai made design changes to the side airbags, body side, and rear door structure to improve occupant protection in side impacts. The new rating applies to 2010 Elantras built after November 2009.

The 2010 Acura ZDX, a new midsize luxury SUV, earns a good rating for frontal crash protection.

The redesigned 2011 Toyota Sienna earns good ratings for both front and side impact crash protection. The previous generation Sienna earned good ratings in the same tests.

Beginning May 17, local communities in Alaska can allow low-speed vehicles on roads with a posted limit of 45 mph or lower. Previously, low speed vehicles were only permitted on roads posted 35 mph or lower. To compare low-speed vehicle laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/LowSpeedVehicles.aspx

The redesigned 2011 Hyundai Sonata earns the Institute's Top Safety Pick award. To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, rear, and rollover tests and be equipped with electronic stability control. Criteria to win are tough because the award is intended to drive continued safety improvements such as top crash test ratings and the rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard on the Sonata.

This is the first time the Sonata has earned the Institute's safety award. The previous generation Sonata was rated good for front and rear impact protection, acceptable in the side impact test, and marginal for rollover protection.

"With the addition of the new rollover evaluation, Institute test results now cover all 4 of the most common kinds of crashes," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "Vehicles that win Top Safety Pick are designs that go far beyond minimum federal safety standards."

Ford's re-engineered and restyled 2010 Mustang convertible earns good ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for occupant protection in offset frontal crashes and side impacts. When the Institute initially tested the 2010 model it earned a poor frontal rating, but it improved to good in a follow-up test after Ford modified the front structure and doors of models made after December 2009.

The 2010 Acura MDX earns a good rating for occupant protection in new side tests. Acura modified the side airbags in the current model of this midsize luxury SUV, which was redesigned for the 2007 model year. The 2007-2009 model also earned a good side rating.

Toyota modified the 2010 Tundra's frontal airbags and safety belts and added knee airbags for the driver and front passenger to retain the good rating it earned for frontal protection for 2007-09 models. This large pickup had previously earned good ratings for side and rear protection, too.

New Jersey joins 23 other states in requiring rear seat occupants to ride restrained. Violations will be enforced as a secondary action, effective 1/20/11. For details on safety belt use laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/SafetyBeltUse.aspx