[jetti]

According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, improved vehicle design has sharply reduced fatality risk in road accidents. Statistics show that the chance of death has fallen by a third over the last three years.

Quotes:

The chances of dying in a crash in a late-model vehicle have fallen by more than a third in three years, the latest IIHS calculations of driver death rates show. Among 2011 models, a record nine vehicles have driver death rates of zero.

Improved vehicle designs and safety technology have a lot to do with the continuing decline in fatality risk.

"This is a huge improvement in just three years, even considering the economy's influence," says David Zuby, IIHS executive vice president and chief research officer. "We know from our vehicle ratings program that crash test performance has been getting steadily better. These latest death rates provide new confirmation that real-world outcomes are improving, too."

Link to article:
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/sr/statusreport/article/50/1/1

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to Technical Stuff. Thanks for sharing!

[SmartCat]

Thanks to the introduction of ESC (Electronic Stability Control), SUV rollover rates have come down drastically. This has removed the only negative SUVs had when it comes to safety.

From the same article -

Death rates by model: SUV drivers are among least likely to be killed
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/sr/statusreport/article/46/5/1

[GTO]

While it's stating the obvious, a good reminder that modern vehicles are getting safer & safer with every new generation. Structures are getting stronger than ever before. Even in the area of active safety, most cars are dynamically sorted these days. You can't really think of a recent launch that handles dangerously or has poor brakes.

Electronics play a big, big part in keeping things under control. I suffered a tyre blowout at 100 - 120 kph and the ESP kept my car tracking straight. No drama, no emergency...a complicated driving situation made idiot-proof by the electronics. Happy to see ABS & Airbag penetration levels increasing in India. I'm willing to bet that, in another 5 years, ESP will be available in a much wider range of sub-10 lakh cars.