IIHS crash testing saves 50,000 lives since launch
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has saved nearly 50,000 lives since the launch of its crash testing programme in 1995, according to a new study from the US nonprofit.
That translates into nearly $540 billion saved in societal costs.
The Institute received a total of $600 million from its insurance company members between 1999 and 2024, the period measured in the study, demonstrating almost a 900-fold return on investment.
The findings are released alongside the 30th anniversary of the IIHS crash testing programme. To visualise the study, the IIHS staged a head-to-head crash test which pitted a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer against the 2026 model, illustrating the dramatic improvement in vehicle safety in response to independent crash testing programmes.
What the study measured
The IIHS began its crashworthiness evaluation programme in 1995 to encourage vehicle design improvements that go beyond federal requirements.
For the study, IIHS researchers examined the effects of five of its crashworthiness evaluations. These are the moderate overlap front, driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front and side crash tests, as well as the roof-strength evaluation. Whilst several of these tests have been updated or discontinued since their introduction, researchers based their calculations on the original version of the tests.
The real-world fatality rates for vehicles rated ‘good’ were compared with those rated ‘acceptable’, ‘marginal’ or ‘poor’ for each test. Researchers then calculated the potential fatalities that would have occurred if the percentage of ‘good’-rated vehicles had not risen through improvements to vehicle safety.
Between 1999 to 2024, the results show that vehicle improvements made in response to testing saved an estimated 48,352 lives.
To measure the financial impact, researchers used the US Department of Transportation’s historical estimates for the value of a statistical life which represents the amount that society would be willing to pay for the safety improvements needed to prevent a single fatality.
By that measure, IIHS crash tests saved society $538 billion.
1996 vs 2026 Chevrolet Blazer
A head-to-head crash test between a 1996 and 2026 Chevrolet Blazer proves an effective illustration of the study’s findings.
The IIHS pitted the two models - manufactured three decades apart - in a special, head-to-head version of the Institute’s moderate overlap front crash test.
In the 2026 model, the occupant compartment remained intact. All but one of the injury measurements taken from the driver dummy showed minimal injury risk. Whilst the risk of injury to the driver’s right foot or lower leg was slightly elevated, it still sat in the acceptable range.
By contrast, the impact crushed the occupant compartment of the 1996 model. The dashboard and steering column was pushed into the dummy’s lap, while the fully inflated airbag hit the dummy in the chin and snapped its head back toward the window. The indicators from the crash test showed that the driver almost certainly would have suffered serious injuries to their head or neck as well as both legs.
The results were stark: the driver of the 2026 model would have walked away from the crash with minor injuries, while the driver of the 1996 model would have suffered serious, potentially fatal injuries.
In the Institute’s actual original moderate overlap evaluation, the 1996 Blazer earned a ‘poor’ rating, with the same issues illustrated by the head-to-head test. That rating applies to models built between 1995 and 2004, while Blazers built after Chevrolet reintroduced the model in 2019 earn ‘good’ ratings.
“The difference between the two vehicles could not be clearer,” IIHS Chief Operating Officer Joe Nolan said.
“It’s inspiring to think that there are thousands of parents, children and friends alive today because of the safety improvements that IIHS has promoted.”
The IIHS previously conducted a similar test which placed a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air against a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, which trumped perceptions that the tank-like nature of older vehicles means greater protection for their occupants.
Improvements to vehicle safety both in the US and beyond are made in response to government standards and consumer ratings. The IIHS’ latest study and head-to-head tests demonstrate the tangible impact that crash testing has on vehicle safety, pressuring manufacturers to respond to poor ratings and update their models beyond legal requirements.
