US fleet safety boosted by FIA-IIHS collaboration
Safety standards of US fleets are set to be enhanced by a new collaboration between the FIA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The partnership brings the IIHS commercial fleet safety awards – TOP SAFETY PICK and TOUGHGUARD – into the FIA Road Safety Index.
David Harkey, President of IIHS, said: “The IIHS safety awards have been informing American consumers for two decades and their inclusion in the FIA Road Safety Index is an important step forward for the nation’s commercial fleets.”
The Index was developed by the FIA, with the support of the FIA Foundation. It provides a data-driven methodology to assess, manage, report and improve organisations’ road safety performance.
To achieve a high Index rating, US organisations must show that all new passenger vehicles in their fleet hold the TOP SAFETY PICK award and all new trailers hold the TOUGHGUARD award.
This will help US fleet buyers to identify the safest vehicles and further align with internationally recognised road safety benchmarks, such as Global NCAP.
Road traffic crashes are the leading cause of workplace deaths in the US, accounting for 38 percent of all fatalities. By bringing fleets into alignment with global best practices, organisations can save lives on the road at scale.
Luca Pascotto, FIA Head of Road Safety & Global Advocacy, said: “By integrating trusted vehicle safety benchmarks, the Road Safety Index helps US organisations go beyond minimum standards and take a more comprehensive approach to protecting employees and other road users.”
Natalie Draisin, FIA Foundation North America Director, added: “Companies and organisations around the world are building their commitment to safer streets. In the US, we are seeing some of the biggest companies, such as Amazon and Uber, commit to protecting their employees and the public through the Index. Safe vehicles are an important component of the system.”
