Which US nonprofit, funded by auto insurers, awards 'Top Safety Pick' ratings to vehicles that excel in crash tests?
Answer
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awards the “Top Safety Pick” ratings.
Usually abbreviated IIHS, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an independent American nonprofit organization that researches vehicle safety and crash losses. It was founded in 1959 by insurance-industry groups, which is why it is often described as being funded by auto insurers. Its work includes vehicle crash testing, evaluations of headlights and driver-assistance systems, and analysis of insurance loss data through its affiliated Highway Loss Data Institute.
Top Safety Pick is an annual recognition for vehicles that perform strongly across a range of IIHS crashworthiness and crash-avoidance evaluations. The related Top Safety Pick+ designation represents a higher level under the institute’s published criteria.
A frequent confusion is with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA. NHTSA is a federal government agency that runs the U.S. New Car Assessment Program and gives its own star ratings. IIHS is not a government regulator, and its awards are separate from NHTSA’s testing, even though both organizations assess vehicle safety.