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In looking for a new or used vehicle, there is more to consider than what is on the manufacturer's window sticker or even the color of the vehicle. Passenger vehicles have become safer over the years, but when it comes to crashworthiness and crash avoidance tests, they vary greatly between manufacturers and even individual models within a manufacturer's class or line of vehicles. Different versions of the same model can fare differently in tests, such as the new roof-strength tests. Before buying the next vehicle, understanding how the model is likely to perform is important.

Two testing agencies, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) both perform vehicle tests.

NHTSA - The NHTSA "5-Star Safety Rating" program tests new vehicles. Just as the average consumer does, NHTSA purchases new vehicles off the lot for testing in order for it to insure its testing is not biased. The crash-test program includes front-impact and side impact.  They also conduct roll-over testing on SUVs and pickup trucks. Beginning with testing the 2011 model year, NHTSA revamped the  government's 5-Star Safety Rating Program.  The new program enhancements include:

• More stringent criteria - makes a 4 or 5-star rating more difficult to achieve.
• Overall vehicle scores - score is calculated by combining the frontal, side and roll-over ratings.
• New side pole crash test - tests occupant safety when hitting immovable objects like telephone poles.
• Advanced crash test dummies - two new dummies representing a small-sized adult female and a mid-sized adult male to provide more accurate and robust analysis.

IIHS - IIHS evaluates the crashworthiness (how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash) and crash avoidance and mitigation (the technology the vehicle has to either prevent a crash or lessen its severity). Based on the outcome of five tests: moderate overlap front, small overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, the IHS rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal or poor. A separate rating is given for crash avoidance and mitigation. If a vehicle has a front crash prevention system, the IIHS will assign a rating based on the type of system and the performance of the system in track tests.  The rating range from basic, advanced or superior.

Whether tests are performed by NHTSA or IIHS, to have validity, the test results need to be compared model-to-model within a vehicle class or between models of similar weight (within 250 pounds of each other). Not only does weight play a roll in comparisons, but the size (smaller or larger) and how the vehicle "rides" (either lower or higher-riding) are variables. 

To find and compare crash test ratings for NHTSA go to Safercar.gov where you can enter the year and make of the vehicle you are considering and for IIHS go to IIHS Top Safety Picks By Year .

"Doing your homework by checking both the NHTSA and the IIHS safety test results before shopping for a vehicle may not only save you in vehicle repair costs, but, more importantly, save you, your family and others from possible injury or death if involved in a crash," says Lee County Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. 

Lee County Personal Injury Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.