IIHS are the gold standard on this issue
How safe are autonomous vehicles, really?
In @bloomberg.com, I got into the weeds with David Kidd of the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (@iihs-hldi.bsky.social)
His conclusion: “It’s still too early to say with any kind of confidence that they are safer than human drivers overall.”
🧵
In @bloomberg.com, I got into the weeds with David Kidd of the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (@iihs-hldi.bsky.social)
His conclusion: “It’s still too early to say with any kind of confidence that they are safer than human drivers overall.”
🧵
An Insurance Expert Appraises the Safety Record of Self-Driving Cars
Are autonomous vehicles operated by companies like Waymo and Tesla making the streets safer? The insurance industry’s research arm is watching closely.
www.bloomberg.com
February 23, 2026 at 4:21 PM
IIHS are the gold standard on this issue
2025 IIHS Top Safety Picks
These vehicles earn top marks in 2025 IIHS evaluations.
www.iihs.org
April 13, 2025 at 4:47 PM
This is a wild statistic (from IIHS, a very reputable research org):
"Cellphone use prior to crashes is undercounted in police reports by a factor of at least 7."
"Cellphone use prior to crashes is undercounted in police reports by a factor of at least 7."
Study shows police reports undercount cellphone use before crashes
Police usually fail to note drivers talking, texting or fiddling with their phones in crash reports, a new IIHS study shows.
www.iihs.org
August 30, 2026 at 12:24 PM
This is a wild statistic (from IIHS, a very reputable research org):
"Cellphone use prior to crashes is undercounted in police reports by a factor of at least 7."
"Cellphone use prior to crashes is undercounted in police reports by a factor of at least 7."
He estado a un pelo de embestir voluntariamente al coche que llevaba delante.
Se me ha metido delante y me ha tocado frenar.
El muy trozo de mierda llevaba una pegatina en la luna trasera en la que ponía "todas mienten".
No puedo explicar LA RABIA
Se me ha metido delante y me ha tocado frenar.
El muy trozo de mierda llevaba una pegatina en la luna trasera en la que ponía "todas mienten".
No puedo explicar LA RABIA
IIHS Hyundai Car Crash Test
ALT: IIHS Hyundai Car Crash Test
static.klipy.com
May 20, 2026 at 6:12 PM
He estado a un pelo de embestir voluntariamente al coche que llevaba delante.
Se me ha metido delante y me ha tocado frenar.
El muy trozo de mierda llevaba una pegatina en la luna trasera en la que ponía "todas mienten".
No puedo explicar LA RABIA
Se me ha metido delante y me ha tocado frenar.
El muy trozo de mierda llevaba una pegatina en la luna trasera en la que ponía "todas mienten".
No puedo explicar LA RABIA
this is one of the most truly insane videos online www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_r5...
1959 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu IIHS crash test
YouTube video by IIHS
www.youtube.com
May 25, 2025 at 4:30 AM
this is one of the most truly insane videos online www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_r5...
New study from IIHS shows that car bloat is dangerous even at low speeds:
If hit by a sedan going 27 mph, a pedestrian has a 60% chance of a moderate+ injury and 30% chance of a serious one.
If it's a pickup going 27 mph, those odds rise to 83% and 63%, respectively.
www.iihs.org/news/detail/...
If hit by a sedan going 27 mph, a pedestrian has a 60% chance of a moderate+ injury and 30% chance of a serious one.
If it's a pickup going 27 mph, those odds rise to 83% and 63%, respectively.
www.iihs.org/news/detail/...
Vehicle height compounds dangers of speed for pedestrians
New pedestrian injury risk curves calculated by IIHS show that vehicles with taller front ends begin to cause serious injuries at lower speeds.
www.iihs.org
December 10, 2024 at 1:15 PM
New study from IIHS shows that car bloat is dangerous even at low speeds:
If hit by a sedan going 27 mph, a pedestrian has a 60% chance of a moderate+ injury and 30% chance of a serious one.
If it's a pickup going 27 mph, those odds rise to 83% and 63%, respectively.
www.iihs.org/news/detail/...
If hit by a sedan going 27 mph, a pedestrian has a 60% chance of a moderate+ injury and 30% chance of a serious one.
If it's a pickup going 27 mph, those odds rise to 83% and 63%, respectively.
www.iihs.org/news/detail/...
FREEDOM TO HIT AND KILL PEDESTRIANS
www.cbsnews.com/news/taller-...
www.cbsnews.com/news/taller-...
U.S. "fondness for tall SUVs and pickups" compounding risks for pedestrians in crashes, IIHS study finds
The IIHS says a "small increase in crash speed can really ramp up the danger to a pedestrian," and our penchant for big vehicles "has intensified that effect."
www.cbsnews.com
July 17, 2025 at 4:19 PM
FREEDOM TO HIT AND KILL PEDESTRIANS
www.cbsnews.com/news/taller-...
www.cbsnews.com/news/taller-...
New Cars Are Way Too Hard To See Out Of According To A New Study 👀 www.theautopian.com/a-new-iihs-s...
New Cars Are Way Too Hard To See Out Of According To A New Study - The Autopian
We've always known new cars are harder to see out of than old ones, but a new IIHS study actually quantifies this visibility hunch.
www.theautopian.com
June 26, 2025 at 7:52 PM
New Cars Are Way Too Hard To See Out Of According To A New Study 👀 www.theautopian.com/a-new-iihs-s...
I mean, I have the IIHS '59 Bel Air vs '09 Malibu bookmarked for a reason: www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_r5... And that was 16 years ago!
1959 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu IIHS crash test
YouTube video by IIHS
www.youtube.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I mean, I have the IIHS '59 Bel Air vs '09 Malibu bookmarked for a reason: www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_r5... And that was 16 years ago!
Meanwhile, American car manufacturers simply won't build a car for my family: 3 rows, highest safety rating from IIHS, not too big.
Japan and Korea sell 10+ cars in the U.S. meeting my criteria, U.S. manufacturers sell zero. (Only the newest model GMC Acadia even comes close on safety.)
Japan and Korea sell 10+ cars in the U.S. meeting my criteria, U.S. manufacturers sell zero. (Only the newest model GMC Acadia even comes close on safety.)
July 14, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Meanwhile, American car manufacturers simply won't build a car for my family: 3 rows, highest safety rating from IIHS, not too big.
Japan and Korea sell 10+ cars in the U.S. meeting my criteria, U.S. manufacturers sell zero. (Only the newest model GMC Acadia even comes close on safety.)
Japan and Korea sell 10+ cars in the U.S. meeting my criteria, U.S. manufacturers sell zero. (Only the newest model GMC Acadia even comes close on safety.)
Yesterday, IIHS released this jaw-dropping crash test of a 2026 Blazer vs. a 1996 Blazer. Watch this and understand two things: (1) Older vehicles are insanely dangerous, and (2) product liability lawyers caused that to change.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U8E...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U8E...
2026 vs. 1996 Chevrolet Blazer IIHS crash test
YouTube video by IIHS
www.youtube.com
June 25, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Yesterday, IIHS released this jaw-dropping crash test of a 2026 Blazer vs. a 1996 Blazer. Watch this and understand two things: (1) Older vehicles are insanely dangerous, and (2) product liability lawyers caused that to change.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U8E...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U8E...
Two lessons from the IIHS study:
1) Looking at a phone while driving is incredibly dangerous. We need better enforcement (potentially w/automatic cameras).
2) Police crash reports are absolute garbage.
1) Looking at a phone while driving is incredibly dangerous. We need better enforcement (potentially w/automatic cameras).
2) Police crash reports are absolute garbage.
August 30, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Two lessons from the IIHS study:
1) Looking at a phone while driving is incredibly dangerous. We need better enforcement (potentially w/automatic cameras).
2) Police crash reports are absolute garbage.
1) Looking at a phone while driving is incredibly dangerous. We need better enforcement (potentially w/automatic cameras).
2) Police crash reports are absolute garbage.
Ah ha, there is one made in the US! 3 rows, IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus, not too big. Also an EV, which is nice.
Unsurprisingly, it's not one of the major manufacturers, because they're all too busy making pedestrian-crushers that also don't hold up in crashes.
Unsurprisingly, it's not one of the major manufacturers, because they're all too busy making pedestrian-crushers that also don't hold up in crashes.
Rivian R1S
July 14, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Ah ha, there is one made in the US! 3 rows, IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus, not too big. Also an EV, which is nice.
Unsurprisingly, it's not one of the major manufacturers, because they're all too busy making pedestrian-crushers that also don't hold up in crashes.
Unsurprisingly, it's not one of the major manufacturers, because they're all too busy making pedestrian-crushers that also don't hold up in crashes.
The screenshotted data is from IIHS by the way
Vehicle height compounds dangers of speed for pedestrians
New pedestrian injury risk curves calculated by IIHS show that vehicles with taller front ends begin to cause serious injuries at lower speeds.
www.iihs.org
April 30, 2026 at 1:39 AM
The screenshotted data is from IIHS by the way
So this new Hyundai commercial is trash, portraying drivers as poor victims on the roads with kids and bicyclists out to get them.
The Road | Over 120 IIHS Top Safety Awards since 2006 | Hyundai
YouTube video by HyundaiUSA
youtu.be
January 27, 2025 at 10:47 AM
So this new Hyundai commercial is trash, portraying drivers as poor victims on the roads with kids and bicyclists out to get them.
Shoutout to the people & org’s who've been warning about car bloat for years, including:
- @iihs-hldi.bsky.social
- National Safety Council
- @usa.streetsblog.org
- @schmangee.bsky.social
- @justintyndall.bsky.social
Without their work, NYT wouldn't have placed a spotlight on the issue.
- @iihs-hldi.bsky.social
- National Safety Council
- @usa.streetsblog.org
- @schmangee.bsky.social
- @justintyndall.bsky.social
Without their work, NYT wouldn't have placed a spotlight on the issue.
June 22, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Shoutout to the people & org’s who've been warning about car bloat for years, including:
- @iihs-hldi.bsky.social
- National Safety Council
- @usa.streetsblog.org
- @schmangee.bsky.social
- @justintyndall.bsky.social
Without their work, NYT wouldn't have placed a spotlight on the issue.
- @iihs-hldi.bsky.social
- National Safety Council
- @usa.streetsblog.org
- @schmangee.bsky.social
- @justintyndall.bsky.social
Without their work, NYT wouldn't have placed a spotlight on the issue.
It is not. I wrote this in 2023. www.designnews.com/automotive-e...
IIHS Finds Significant Increase in Pedestrian Fatalities from Tall, Boxy Vehicles
Consumers’ shift to tall, squared-off SUVs is killing pedestrians at a shockingly high rate.
www.designnews.com
June 22, 2026 at 3:34 PM
It is not. I wrote this in 2023. www.designnews.com/automotive-e...
2025 Rivian R1S is the *only* large SUV to earn the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation.
December 18, 2024 at 1:37 AM
2025 Rivian R1S is the *only* large SUV to earn the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation.
"IIHS findings show that vehicles with hood heights over 40 inches are approximately 45% more likely to cause pedestrian fatalities."
Sharing the Road: Research shows bigger, taller vehicles are more dangerous to pedestrians
Take an in-depth look at how vehicle design affects safety on and near roadways. Also, see the potential solutions that could protect everyone.
www.investigatetv.com
May 18, 2025 at 2:29 PM
"IIHS findings show that vehicles with hood heights over 40 inches are approximately 45% more likely to cause pedestrian fatalities."
They just won the IIHS best safety pick for 2024. And all the reviews I read are that people love them
My biggest question is about ease of charging. Otherwise I'm sold
My biggest question is about ease of charging. Otherwise I'm sold
December 26, 2024 at 4:44 PM
They just won the IIHS best safety pick for 2024. And all the reviews I read are that people love them
My biggest question is about ease of charging. Otherwise I'm sold
My biggest question is about ease of charging. Otherwise I'm sold
We're back after a break, and DMV is asking Nowlis if the 2019 IIHS survey referenced earlier might have informed his methodology, and he says that he couldn't say without reading the entire 120 page document.
July 25, 2025 at 6:25 PM
We're back after a break, and DMV is asking Nowlis if the 2019 IIHS survey referenced earlier might have informed his methodology, and he says that he couldn't say without reading the entire 120 page document.
IIHS—the closest thing in the US to a neutral arbiter on AV safety— has found that Waymos are involved in ~68% fewer crashes than human drivers.
That's a big deal, although the safety benefits appear to be lower than what Waymo has publicly claimed.
A few thoughts 🧵
That's a big deal, although the safety benefits appear to be lower than what Waymo has publicly claimed.
A few thoughts 🧵
Waymo’s driverless cars crash less often than people
Waymo’s driverless vehicles have crash rates that are 68% lower than human drivers, new IIHS research shows. But as the technology is deployed more widely, a better system for tracking safety is ...
www.iihs.org
July 23, 2026 at 1:53 PM
IIHS—the closest thing in the US to a neutral arbiter on AV safety— has found that Waymos are involved in ~68% fewer crashes than human drivers.
That's a big deal, although the safety benefits appear to be lower than what Waymo has publicly claimed.
A few thoughts 🧵
That's a big deal, although the safety benefits appear to be lower than what Waymo has publicly claimed.
A few thoughts 🧵
New study out by IIHS:
"New pedestrian injury risk curves calculated by IIHS show that vehicles with taller front ends begin to cause serious injuries at lower speeds."
www.iihs.org/news/detail/...
An average pickup truck travelling 35 mph is ~3x more likely to kill someone than a standard car.
"New pedestrian injury risk curves calculated by IIHS show that vehicles with taller front ends begin to cause serious injuries at lower speeds."
www.iihs.org/news/detail/...
An average pickup truck travelling 35 mph is ~3x more likely to kill someone than a standard car.
December 19, 2024 at 4:27 PM
New study out by IIHS:
"New pedestrian injury risk curves calculated by IIHS show that vehicles with taller front ends begin to cause serious injuries at lower speeds."
www.iihs.org/news/detail/...
An average pickup truck travelling 35 mph is ~3x more likely to kill someone than a standard car.
"New pedestrian injury risk curves calculated by IIHS show that vehicles with taller front ends begin to cause serious injuries at lower speeds."
www.iihs.org/news/detail/...
An average pickup truck travelling 35 mph is ~3x more likely to kill someone than a standard car.
Insurance Institute Crash Test
Notice the rear window closes all by itself after the crash
In a real event this could trap passengers
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Or1...
Notice the rear window closes all by itself after the crash
In a real event this could trap passengers
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Or1...
2025 Tesla Cybertruck updated moderate overlap IIHS crash test
YouTube video by IIHS
www.youtube.com
February 24, 2026 at 2:55 AM
Insurance Institute Crash Test
Notice the rear window closes all by itself after the crash
In a real event this could trap passengers
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Or1...
Notice the rear window closes all by itself after the crash
In a real event this could trap passengers
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Or1...