The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported on Tuesday that testing measuring the safety of rear seat passengers in various incidents revealed that four large pickup vehicles performed badly.

According to new moderate overlap front crash tests, the IIHS gave the 2023 model Stellantis Ram 1500 crew cab, Ford F-150 crew cab, and General Motors Chevrolet Silverado 1500 a poor grade, while the 2023 Toyota Tundra crew cab was given a weak rating.

“Like most other vehicle classes, large pickups don’t perform as well in the new moderate overlap evaluation as they do in the updated side test,” said IIHS President David Harkey.

IIHS is an industry association that employs crash testing and grading systems to encourage automakers to construct safer cars.

After studies revealed that there is a greater chance of a fatal injury for belted passengers in the second row of newer pickup trucks than in the front, the updated moderate overlap front test was implemented in 2022.

According to IIHS, enhanced airbags and cutting-edge seat belts that are normally unavailable in the back have improved front seat safety.

The front seats of all four pickups offered sufficient protection, but the rear seat restraint systems were insufficient.

In order to address higher-speed crashes that continue to result in fatalities, an improved side test was implemented. The modified test replicates the striking force created by the striking  vehicle by using a heavier barrier moving faster.

Toyota opted not to respond. Requests for response from Ford and GM were not answered. According to Stellantis, “we routinely consider third-party ratings and factor them into our product-development process, as appropriate.”

During COVID-19, traffic deaths increased dramatically and are still much higher than before the epidemic. Although fewer than in the same period in 2020, the number of fatalities in the first half of 2023 was still greater than in any pre-pandemic year since 2006.

More pickup drivers than drivers of other types of vehicles—60% of those killed in traffic crashes in 2021 were not wearing seat belts.

(Adapted from MarketScreener.com)

Categories: Economy & Finance, Regulations & Legal, Strategy, Uncategorized