Cars, light trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans that are new, popular, redesigned or have improved safety equipment are selected for testing and bought from dealers. Additional results for current models will be released at intervals throughout the year. In addition to causing grief and suffering, vehicle crashes add billions of dollars to the cost of health care and vehicle insurance. Each year, some 40,000 Americans lose their lives in motor vehicle collisions. Despite these grim statistics, the rate of traffic deaths per million miles driven is steadily declining.
Safer cars get partial credit for the encouraging trend.
Each new model must meet safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Though not yet required by law, features such as dual air bags increase a vehicle's sales appeal. No automobile is 100 percent safe or collision-proof. An experienced and unimpaired driver is the most important safety features in any car. Keep your car in safe operating condition.