| In a June 4, 2001 press
release, the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety issued a press release containing it's
first crash test results for large pickups more than 3500 lbs. The
results showed that the Ford F-150 by far performed the worst of
the four trucks tested. The release stated that "the best
performer in a 40 mph frontal offset crash test was the Toyota Tundra,
which is rated good. By far the worst performer was the Ford F-150, which
is rated poor. The Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra is rated marginal, and
the Dodge Ram is poor."
The Toyota Tundra received high ratings in
part due to a strong cab which remained intact protecting the occupants
(test dummies). "There was very little intrusion into the occupant
compartment, very little deformation. As a result, the dummy's movement
was well controlled, and the injury measures all were low except for some
moderately high forces recorded on the dummy's right leg," Institute
president Brian O'Neill says.
Ford F-150 is worst: In contrast,
the F-150 "exhibited major collapse of the occupant compartment in
the offset test," O'Neill points out. "As a result of this
collapse, the dummy's movement wasn't well controlled. High injury
measures were recorded on the dummy's head and neck. The airbag deployed
late in the crash, and this also contributed to the high injury
measures."
"A key aspect of protecting people in
crashes is keeping the space around occupants intact. Then the safety
belts and airbags can prevent significant injuries, even in very serious
crashes. This is what happened in the Tundra but not in the F-150,"
O'Neill says.
According to a related AP wire story, the
Ford F-150 has been the best selling vehicle in North America for 19
years.
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