Safety Group Releases Crash Test Results For Pickup Trucks

A leading consumer auto safety organization recently conducted crash tests on large pick-up trucks and found some aren’t as tough as they look.  

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says the ford F-150 Supercab earns its top rating, performing best in all of its crash tests.

" When Ford redesigned this vehicle, they clearly did a good job of targeting all the crash modes," Raul Arbelaez. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The IIHS says the Ford F-150 is best at helping vehicle occupants withstand serious injuries, especially leg and foot injuries, after a crash.

The crash tests replicate what happens when a pick-up truck runs off the road and hits a tree, pole, or another vehicle. among the tests, two front impacts and a side crash.

See the IIHS report on the tests.

Arbelaez said, "We looked at rear impact tests, and then, we also looked at roof strength tests."

Aside from Ford, the IIHS says the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Double-Cab and the Toyota Tundra Double-Cab garnered acceptable safety ratings.

But, both the Dodge Ram 1500 crew cab and quad cab did not fair so well, receiving poor ratings for vehicle structure. The IIHS says the force of the crashes in these two models shoved portions of the door hinges, instrument panels, and steering columns towards the occupants.
 
The IIHS does not make recommendations to automakers but encourages them to redesign their vehicles for ultimate passenger safety.  

The "Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has been crash testing cars since 1994 and reviews areas like a car's structure, restraints, and injury measures.