The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is releasing results of its first evaluations of commercial vehicles.
Four of the first nine heavy-duty pickups and cargo vans to be assessed come with a suite of features that IIHS considers essential for driver protection, including standard front and side airbags, advanced seat belt technology and effective seat belt reminders.
In the coming months, IIHS plans to evaluate these same vehicles for attributes that can protect other road users, including automatic emergency braking and headlights.
“For decades, IIHS has helped consumers prioritize safety in their car-buying decisions,” said IIHS President David Harkey.
“These initial evaluations mark our first foray into commercial vehicles, which for too long have been an afterthought when it comes to regulations and safety information.”
According to the Institute, in 2023, 6,535 people were killed in crashes involving heavy- or medium-duty trucks or light vans, accounting for 16% of all roadway fatalities in the US. Reducing that toll is a key part of the IIHS’s 30×30 vision of reducing fatalities 30% by 2030.
The full results can be viewed on the IIHS website.
