IIHS crashworthiness tests have saved nearly 50,000 lives since 1995, study finds
Vehicle safety improvements driven by IIHS crashworthiness tests saved an estimated 48,352 lives from 1999 to 2024, a new study shows.
- 48,352
- $538 billion
- $600 million
- nearly 900-fold
What Happened
A new IIHS study estimates that vehicle improvements prompted by its crashworthiness testing program saved 48,352 lives from 1999 to 2024. The program, launched in 1995, generated an estimated $538 billion in societal cost savings. IIHS received $600 million in funding from its insurance company members over that period, a nearly 900-fold return on investment.
48,352
Estimated lives saved from 1999 to 2024 as a result of vehicle improvements driven by IIHS crashworthiness tests.
Moderate overlap front crash test launched.
Side crash test program introduced.
Driver-side small overlap front test introduced.
Passenger-side small overlap front test introduced.
Small overlap tests combined into a single rating.
- Original front crash tests (including moderate overlap): 28,697 lives
- Side crash test: 18,224 lives
- Roof-strength evaluation: 1,432 lives
- Occupant compartment crushed; dashboard and steering column pushed into dummy's lap; serious or potentially fatal injuri
- Occupant compartment intact; all but one injury measure showed minimal risk; driver would likely walk away with bumps an
“These results highlight the role of IIHS ratings in driving many of the key vehicle safety improvements of the past 30 years. Our ratings program, in turn, has only been possible because of the unwavering support of our member companies in funding our work.”
Why this matters
Crash test ratings pushed automakers to build safer vehicles, and this study quantifies the payoff: tens of thousands of lives and more than $500 billion in societal cost savings over three decades. For everyday drivers, it means modern vehicles are far safer than older ones — as illustrated by the stark difference between a 1996 and 2026 Chevrolet Blazer in a head-to-head crash test.
Terms in This Story
- crashworthiness
- The ability of a vehicle to protect its occupants during a crash.
- moderate overlap front crash test
- A crash test in which two vehicles overlap by 40% of their width while colliding head-on.
- small overlap front test
- A crash test simulating a collision where only 25% of the vehicle's width overlaps the other vehicle or object.
- value of a statistical life (VSL)
- An economic measure of how much society is willing to spend to prevent one fatality.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.