Especially for rear passengers, according to the latest IIHS crash test results.
According to recent crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), small and mid-sized pickup trucks are not providing reasonable protection for rear passengers. The dummy measurements from the crash tests indicated that passengers seated in the back of trucks of these sizes are susceptible to neck or chest injuries.
The IIHS crash-tested five small and mid-sized crew cab pickup trucks, and none got a “good” rating. Among the trucks tested was the Nissan Frontier, which earned an “acceptable” mark for its overall rating and was deemed the safest among all trucks tested as per rear occupant protection.
Meanwhile, the Ford Ranger earned a “marginal” rating, while the Chevrolet Colorado, Jeep Gladiator, and Toyota Tacoma all got a “poor” rating.
The IIHS gives a vehicle a “good” rating when the dummy remains in position during the crash. The crash test results should also not indicate an excessive risk of injury to the head, neck, chest, or thigh.
IIHS President David Harkey said the rear passenger dummy's head on the trucks tested came “dangerously close to the front seatback.” This indicates that the rear seat belts on small trucks should be improved to lessen traffic fatalities further.
The low safety rating on pickup trucks tested can also be attributed to the IIHS' updated moderate overlap front crash test, implemented last year. The IIHS shared that its updated assessment revealed that rear occupants are more likely at risk of incurring a fatal injury.
The reason is that the front seats have more safety features that prevent the risk of severe or fatal injuries. Rear occupants don't have the luxury of having an airbag or an advanced seatbelt to minimize the impact of a collision. Despite this, the IIHS remains firm in stating that the back seat is the safest place for young children since an inflating front airbag could cause injury.
The more stringent assessment has also proved to be a challenge among small cars in the US, wherein the rear dummy showed the risk of incurring internal injuries. The rear dummy aboard small cars also showed a moderate or high risk of head, neck, or chest injuries.
Keyword: Small Trucks Are Not Getting Any Safer