ARLINGTON, VA — The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is pleased to announce the election of Douglas S. Joyce as the new chairman of its Board of Directors. Joyce is president of Alfa Alliance Insurance Corporation. He succeeds Steven George, chief operations officer, AAA of Northern California, Nevada, and Utah, who served as IIHS chairman during 2011 and will continue to serve as a Board member.

ARLINGTON, VA — The Highway Loss Data Institute is pleased to announce the election of James Nutting as the new chairman of its Board of Directors. Nutting is senior vice president and chief actuary, Farmers Insurance Group of Companies. He succeeds Martin Deede, vice president – actuarial, MetLife Auto and Home, who served as HLDI chairman in 2011 and will continue to serve as a Board member.

New safety features take 3 decades on average to spread through the vehicle fleet, a HLDI report says

Bumper demonstration test shows easy way to solve mismatch problem when SUVs and cars collide

Final hours-of-service rule still allows truck drivers to spend up to 11 hours a day at the wheel

New technologies could cut crashes dramatically, but don't count on them being everywhere tomorrow. A study by the Highway Loss Data Institute shows it takes about three decades for safety features to spread through the registered vehicle fleet.

Status Report Vol. 47, No. 1 cover article

A New Jersey law intended to help police enforce graduated licensing restrictions by requiring young drivers to display special decals is unpopular, widely flouted, and hasn't led to better compliance with the restrictions, an Institute study has found.

Status Report article: Vol. 46, No. 11, p. 4

ARLINGTON, VA — The list of winners of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award is longer than ever this year, with vehicles in nearly every size category the Institute evaluates earning accolades. From minicars to sedans to pickups, consumers have a record number of choices among 2012 models.

TOP SAFETY PICK award goes to a record number of models for 2012 as automakers make changes to win

Winners by vehicle class

N.J. teen driver decal law is unpopular and hasn't raised teens' compliance with GDL restrictions

Crashes and near crashes are more common in the first 6 months after 16 year-olds begin driving

Hybrids' injury odds are lower than their gasoline-powered twins due to their heavier weight

Pedestrian injury claims are 20 percent higher for hybrid models than for standard models

Teenagers' crash risk gets worse when they ride motorcycles or drive sports cars

Alcohol-detection device project is now in development phase

ARLINGTON, VA — Hybrids have a safety edge over their conventional twins when it comes to shielding their occupants from injuries in crashes, new research by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, shows. On average, the odds of being injured in a crash are 25 percent lower for people in hybrids than people traveling in nonhybrid models.

ARLINGTON, VA — Riding a motorcycle is safer when the bike is equipped with antilock brakes, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety explains in a new consumer brochure.

Pennsylvania joins 34 other states in banning text messaging by all drivers, effective March 8, 2012. For details on cellphone and texting bans in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx.

ARLINGTON, VA — Five minivan models have earned the 2011 Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, standing out from competitors for superior protection in rollover crashes.

Pennsylvania has increased the number of supervised driving hours from 50 to 65 and added a nighttime and inclement weather practice requirement. Additionally, for the first 6 months, intermediate license holders may drive with no more than one passenger younger than 18; thereafter, no more than three. Changes take effect December 24, 2011. For details on graduated driver licensing laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/graduatedLicenseIntro.aspx.

Pennsylvania has eliminated the secondary enforcement provision for children ages 4 through 17, meaning that an officer can stop a vehicle solely for noncompliance of the restraint laws, effective December 24, 2011. For details on child restraint laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/childrestraint.aspx.

More boosters are doing a good job of fitting safety belts to kids in the latest round of seat evaluations

Unique inflatable booster seat earns a BEST BET designation

Strong child restraint laws help to reduce crash injuries and lift use of boosters and child restraints

Onboard recorder rule struck down by federal appeals court