New Crash Test Shows Big Pickups Don’t Provide the Safety People Think.
It is a common misconception that full size pickup trucks are safe vehicles for passengers. However, recent crash test results paint a different picture. The IIHS conducted crash safety tests on 2023 Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, Ram 1500, and Toyota Tundra. The results indicated that these trucks earned “poor” ratings in terms of protecting rear seat passengers during a collision.
The perception of full size pickups being safe in a crash has been debunked by the latest IIHS test. This test revealed passengers in the back seat of these vehicles are at greater risk of injury compared to those in the front. These new crash test results from the IIHS are significant because full size trucks, are some of the best selling vehicles and are often used as family vehicles.
A New Safety Test:
The new crash safety test introduced by the IIHS focuses on the safety of rear passengers, recognizing that while modern restraint devices and airbags have improved the safety of drivers and front passengers, the same level of protection has not been extended to those sitting in the back. This is a crucial factor to consider, especially since kids are likely to sit in the second row of these trucks, and the safety of rear passengers has been found to be lacking in vehicles across different segments.
The IIHS launched the updated moderate overlap front test after its research showed that newer vehicles have posed a higher risk of fatal injury for belted occupants in the second row. Although the front seat has become safer through improved airbags and advanced seat belts, these safety enhancements are rarely available in the back. However, it is important to note that while these test results are concerning for adult rear passengers, the back seat remains the safest place for children, provided that they are properly secured in child safety seats.
Rear Seat Passenger Focus:
The updated test entails the positioning of a second dummy in the second row behind the driver. The rear dummy represents the size of a small woman or a 12-year-old child, and the test also involves new metrics focusing on injuries that are often seen in back seat passengers. The crash safety test was conducted on full size trucks from Ford, Chevy, Ram, and Toyota, with the 2023 Toyota Tundra being the only vehicle that did not earn a poor rating overall.
The results of the crash test revealed that rear passengers in the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, and Ram 1500 were at an excessive risk of injury due to poor belt positioning, whereas those in the Tundra were not subjected to excessive seat belt forces in the back seat. To obtain a good rating, a vehicle cannot pose an excessive risk of injury to the head, neck, chest, or thigh, as recorded by the second-row dummy. Additionally, the head should remain a safe distance from the front seatback, the shoulder belt should remain on the shoulder, and “submarining” – which is when a passenger slides under the seat belt – should be avoided.
Injuries Likely from Test Measurements:
The measurements taken from the rear dummy showed a higher likelihood of chest injuries and head or neck injuries in the F-150 and Ram 1500. The risk of these injuries was somewhat lower but still excessive in the Silverado, while the Tundra had a slightly elevated risk of chest injuries. These results are particularly notable because many people had assumed these trucks to be safer than other cars, and now it seems big pickups don’t provide the safety people expected.
When asked about the IIHS findings, representatives from the automakers revealed that they are continuously working to improve the safety aspects of their vehicles based on feedback from organizations such as the IIHS. Although the results of the latest IIHS crash test are concerning, they serve as an important reminder of the ongoing need for prioritizing the safety of passengers, especially those sitting in the rear seats of full size trucks.