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April 01, 2006

IIHS OVERHAULS CRASH TEST, RATINGS CRITERIA

Claiming “victory” in its offset frontal crash test program, IIHS is “moving on” by modifying the program to reduce the number of actual crash tests and rely more heavily on manufacturer test results. In a detailed press release and its current Status Report the insurance research group said that because the front offset tests have “prompted huge improvements in how vehicles protect people in frontal crashes,” the tests “no longer are providing consumers with much useful information to differentiate among vehicles' frontal crashworthiness.”

In the future it will rely more heavily on “test verification,” a “new approach involving evaluations based on manufacturers' own frontal tests of vehicles meeting requirements established by the Institute… Only redesigned vehicles with immediate predecessors that earned the top rating of good in previous Institute tests are eligible for verification. Substantially redesigned vehicles with significant changes in size, weight, or body style aren't eligible. The Institute will continue testing these vehicles.”

Posted by MVHAP at April 1, 2006 04:54 PM