Number Of "Safe" Cars Doubles From 2008

Insurance Industry Bestows Coveted Rating On 72 New Vehicles, Led By Ford, Volvo

(CBS/AP)  The insurance industry designated dozens of new cars and trucks, led by Ford Motor Co. and its Volvo subsidiary, to its annual list of the safest vehicles Tuesday, helped by the increased use of anti-rollover technology.

Ford and Volvo had 16 vehicles in the 2009 model year on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's list of the safest new cars, followed by Honda Motor Co. with 13 vehicles.

Seventy-two cars, trucks and SUVs received the top safety pick designation for 2009, more than double the number of vehicles in the 2008 model year and three times the number in 2007.

"The sheer number of this year's winners indicates that automakers have made huge strides to improve crash protection," said Institute president Adrian Lund.

The selected vehicles are the best in protecting people in front, side and rear crash tests based on institute evaluations during the year. The vehicles are required to have electronic stability control, or ESC, to qualify for the award.

IIHS said electronic stability control is now standard equipment on virtually all new SUVs and three-quarters of passenger cars for the 2009 model year. ESC is standard on more than one-third of 2009 pickups.

Ford was led by the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan midsize cars with optional ESC; the Ford F-150 pickup, Ford Edge and Ford Flex midsize sport utility vehicles; and the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small SUVs. The list also included the Mazda Tribute, which has the same underpinnings as the Escape and Mariner.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally argued last week in Washington that the automaker had made safety strides when he testified along with other Big Three executives seeking massive government aid.

"Every year, we're going to improve the quality, we're going to improve the fuel efficiency, we're going to improve the safety, and we're going to keep improving the productivity so we can offer the consumer the very best value," Mulally told a House committee.

Chrysler, however, sputtered though with not a single winner, reported CBS News Thalia Assuras. Head restraints in many of its vehicles were not up to par, a must to protect against neck injuries.

"Whiplash isn't going to kill you, but you're much more likely to be in a crash where the consequence is whiplash than you are to be in a crash where the consequence is quite more serious injury or death," said the Institute's David Zuby. "So from the standpoint of driving around day to day, whiplash is your highest risk."

The IIHS said Chrysler could have picked up five awards if the head restraints had been improved in the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring, the Sebring convertible and the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country.

Chrysler spokesman Cole Quinnell said he could not comment on whether the head restraints might be upgraded in the future. He said Chrysler vehicles are equipped with a variety of safety features and the institute's results "are just one of the sources of information about a vehicle's crash performance."

Honda and its Acura unit had vehicles in nearly every category, including top-sellers such as the Honda Accord; the Honda Civic 4-door with optional ESC; and the Acura MDX and RDX midsize SUVs; and the Honda Fit with optional ESC. The Fit is the first mini-car to earn the safety award.

Volkswagen AG and its Audi brand had nine vehicles on the list, including the Volkswagen Jetta and Passat and the Audi A3, A4 and A6.

General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. both had eight vehicles on the list. GM's included the Cadillac CTS and the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook large SUVs.

Toyota's top performers were the Toyota Corolla with optional ESC, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra and Scion xB.

Using the awards, consumers can compare vehicles without having to review results from multiple tests. Automakers pay close attention to the institute's findings and frequently note positive ratings in television commercials.

The institute has advocated for an early adoption of anti-rollover technology such as ESC ahead of a government requirement for the systems by the 2012 model year.

Electronic stability control senses when a driver may lose control and automatically applies brakes to individual wheels to keep the vehicle stable and avoid a rollover. It helps motorists avoid skidding across icy or slick roads or keep control when swerving to avoid an unexpected object in the road.

[sci311]

notopennshut,

Even though I agree with some of what you are saying. Don''t kid yourself, the number of people employed by foreign brands doesn''t even come close to the number of people employed by the domestics (and not just in motown).

[toolmangler-2009]

- YIKES - FORD the safest car we can buy?

Someones brain is two sizes two small...
Posted by ms1-1-1 at 12:34 PM : Nov 25, 2008



I had a ''48 Studebaker Landcriuser that could ''take'' any car built today head on and win. It was built like a M1A2 Abrams tank. It just couldn''t another one just like it. (both drivers would die, "no airbags")

[cheery61]

ms-1-1-1: Almost forgot about you. Let me guess, you drive a Kia!

[cheery61]

ToLady_Organs, and rxzyu: If you really want to buy American, they are out there. Just to name a few:
GE,Sears, Whirlpool, Black and Decker, Sunbeam. Presto, KitchenAid, etc. Just look!
As to Notopennshut: You are so typical why this country is in the mess we are in. You would rather buy Foreign with some assinine reason they must be better. You need to take a reality check if you don''t want to have to learn another language. And, with your thinking, or intellect, I don''t think you would stand a chance!

[navyretired2]

Say what you want, but my car that I was in a 50+ MPH head-on collision last week isn''t anywhere on that list, but, all 4 of us received minor bruises only. The restraints ALL worked fantastic, and the air bags didn''t leave a mark/scratch on us.

Additionally, the entire interior was pristine, only the engine compartment was damaged...and I mean seriously mangled.

The moron that crossed a double-yellow without insurance/registration is another issue...

Dodge Charger Daytona baby!!

[nycsense]

ms1-1-1,

Evidently, you are that naive. So, in you''re world companies up and leave because they''re just being mean? And the real problem are the CEOs who end up with $500 million parachutes from a company that makes tens of billions dollars? I''m guessing you''re probabbly the one doing the books for one of these companies that filed for bankrupcy....with good reason.

[billpl-2009]

"Let''''s recap UNIONs are not the problem the CEO''''s mamouth paychecks, plus perks, plus free homes, plus free cars, plus free stock options, plus plus is the PROBLEM - KEEP IT REAL DUDE!" --posted by ms1-1-1

Those mammoth paychecks and perks are peanuts next to what these companies pay out for the workers and workers benefits.

ARE YOU REALLY that naive?

[nycsense]

One of the main reasons that the US doesn''t produce as much as it use to is because it costs any manufacturer 3 times as much to manufacture here in the US. Why? One word....Unions. Unions make people believe that they are actually still relevant. Then unions threaten companies with strikes if they don''t give all employees raises at the same time. So, what you''re left with are employees making a professional''s salary while performing meanial tasks. Is that fair? That''s an outrage! Then people act surprised when the company packs up and moves to another country where the people there are happy to just have a job.

[tiktin]

These "safety" ratings are being done by people who do not have the vaguest idea what they are doing. The insurance company executives need to wake up and realize that their own IIHS is giving them bad advice. Mostly they are aping whatever NHTSA is telling them, and what NHTSA is doing is motivated by congressional mandates which benefit the seatbelt and air bag industries, but cost the insurance comapnies money.

[supercan-2009]

They list the "FIT" as a safe car! what a laugh---I think these people that write these thing think that the public is just stupid---they are trying anyway they can to get you to buy----if you can get credit.

[notopennshut]

One Reason why folks do not care for cars from the big 3? The humongous number of recalls!! My close relative is an engineer at Ford, and over the years, recommended against purchase of any used car from the company he worked for. So why waste our hard-earned money throwing it after bad, as what the 3 are now begging for in DC. No to a blank check to them for mostly shoddy products while lining their own coffers with diamonds and gold. After all, many of the foreign brands are now also produced in the USA, and providing living wages to millions of others away from motown. Time to stop coddling the executives and workers of UAW.

[mikezembill]

Wall-mart sells most everything made in China but people still buy what they sell. Get a grip and let the shi! lay there but no they have to shop at WALL-MART.

[mikezembill]

cherry61 where can we get a toy,appliance or much of anything else made in the USA.

[get_it_str8]

The safest cars we can''t buy!!!

[johnhenryp]

This morning (11/25/08) The Early Show did it usual "hype" of the news instead of just reporting it. Why was the lead story about Honda and Accura having vehicles in every catagory, instead of Ford having the most vehicles represented? It would sure be refreshing to hear americans bragging on american products. We asked the big three to build better and safer products, Ford did, how about more air time for that.

[legacyabq]

They did this to the bailout of Chrysler back in the 70''''''''s and forced everybody to buy ''''''''unleaded'''''''' gasoline cars with catalyc converters.
==========================
nPosted by whitemale08


YEAH? AND?

[lady_organs]

They did this to the bailout of Chrysler back in the 70''''s and forced everybody to buy ''''unleaded'''' gasoline cars with catalyc converters.
==========================
Posted by whitemale08
==============================
Um, no. Unleaded gas and catalytic converters came in 1975, Chrysler bailout in 1980.

[whitemale08]

The ''global planners'' are setting up Congress to attatch new (green) C.A.F.E. standards to the Auto-Industry bailout.

They did this to the bailout of Chrysler back in the 70''s and forced everybody to buy ''unleaded'' gasoline cars with catalyc converters.

Obama is the new ''figure-head'' to usher in a switch to ''hydrogen'' fuel based cars and most of the government sponsored jobs will be to replace gasoline fuel pumps with ''hydrogen'' fuel pumps.

This will force everyone to buy these new smaller ''Reliant K'' type cars that will cost 3 times more and the interest buyers will pay every year can be deducted from your taxes like a mortgage.

It will work but don''t pretend to fool me into thinking that this a ''brand new idea'', because it has been in the works for decades by these ''global planeers''.

It''s the same model they used for ''tech bubble'' back in the 90''s that forced everybody to update their computers every year until Y2K and replace lan-lines with cell phones.

[lady_organs]

Now, America, let''''s all try to remember not only to go green, but to go Red, White, and Blue!
Save YOUR COUNTRY. BUY AMERICAN! Appliances, toys, cars, everything.
=========================
We dont make anything in this country anymore.

[cheery61]

Now, America, let''s all try to remember not only to go green, but to go Red, White, and Blue!
Save YOUR COUNTRY. BUY AMERICAN! Appliances, toys, cars, everything. Foreign countries do not leave their money in the U.S. after selling these products. Unless, of course, You are helping them buy up this great nation, little by little.
MAKE YOUR CHOICE-IF YOU DON''T MAKE THE RIGHT ONE-DON''T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE ECONOMY!