The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is making stronger protection for back seat passengers a must for 2025.
The organization is requiring better protection for second-row occupants for the 2025 Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards, encouraging automakers to make advanced seat belt technology and other safety innovations the norm in the back seat.
As a result, only 48 models have qualified for 2025 awards so far, compared with 71 last year at this time.
“We’re once again challenging automakers to make their new models even safer than those they were building a year ago,” said IIHS President David Harkey.
“Every vehicle that earns a 2025 award offers a high level of safety in both the front seat and the second row.”
The Institute’s updated moderate overlap front test adds a second dummy seated behind the driver and emphasizes back seat safety. Last year, an acceptable or good rating in the updated test was a requirement for the higher-tier Top Safety Pick+ award. However, a good rating in the original test was still enough to earn the base award.
This year, vehicles must earn an acceptable rating in the updated test to qualify for Top Safety Pick, while a good rating is required for the “plus.” The original test has been phased out completely.
However the IIHS said regardless of a vehicle’s performance in the updated test, the second row remains the safest position for children under 13.
