When it comes to selecting a vehicle, whether it’s a family
vehicle you plan on taking on road trips or a heavy-duty truck you plan on
using for hauling, safety is top of mind for any shopper. If you are shopping
for a new car, truck or SUV, you are likely comparing a number of factors and
safety ratings is no doubt one of them. You have probably seen that a number of
agencies rate vehicles for safety, including the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA), Consumer Reports, and the Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety (IIHS). At Melloy Dodge, we want to share more information
about how these safety ratings are determined, so you can pick the best car for
you!
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an independent nonprofit organization that focuses on, among other things, crash avoidance and crashworthiness. Crash tests are conducted, and vehicles are labeled “Top Safety Pick+” or “Top Safety Pick” if they achieve good ratings based on their four-point rating system. In addition, if vehicles have safety technology features like a rear-view backup camera, blind-spot monitoring and emergency braking, they receive a rating of basic, advanced, or superior.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is a
government agency that provides consumers with crash protection and rollover safety.
The NHTSA’s 5-star Safety Rating system examines what happens to a vehicle in a
variety of crash scenarios, including a frontal crash, side crash, and a
rollover. Five stars indicates the highest safety rating, while one star is the
lowest. Although it is impossible to accurately predict how a vehicle will
protect passengers in any given crash situation, the tests conducted by the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provide an excellent starting
point and allow you to compare relative safety between different makes and
models.
Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is an independent nonprofit organization that
conducts research to help consumers make wise purchase decisions. Consumer
Reports compiles IIHS and NHTSA car safety ratings to give shoppers an overview
of crash test data and rollover data for any given make or model of vehicle.
When you’re shopping for a vehicle, be sure to consult each
of these sources for information on a vehicle’s safety. Pick a vehicle with a
five-star overall safety rating like the 2018 Dodge Challenger, or a vehicle
with plenty of safety features like the 2018 Dodge Durango with parking
assistance, adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring. Visit Melloy
Dodge to learn more about our vehicles and their safety features and ratings!
