The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organizations worldwide, has announced that the FIA Road Safety Index will use the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK and TOUGHGUARD awards as benchmarks to define the safest vehicles on the U.S. market.

Road traffic crashes are the leading cause of workplace deaths in the U.S., accounting for 38% of all fatalities. Employers have a leading role to play in ensuring the safety of their employees and other road users. By aligning fleets and systems with global best practices, organizations can save lives on the road at scale.

Developed by the FIA, with the support of the FIA Foundation, the FIA Road Safety Index gives organizations worldwide a data-driven methodology to assess, manage, report, and improve their road safety footprint.

As part of the assessment to achieve the current top 3-star rating under the Index, organizations must demonstrate that they are only using vehicles with the highest available safety performance.

Globally recognized vehicle safety rating systems, including the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP), provide an essential tool for identifying high-performing vehicles to help organizations achieve safety performance above and beyond minimum requirements.

To achieve a higher Index rating, organizations based or operating in the U.S., will need to ensure that all new passenger vehicles in their fleet hold the IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK award and all new trailers hold the IIHS TOUGHGUARD award. The Index assessment will also look at whether the current fleet comprises vehicles with the same safety levels.

Since 2006, IIHS has been awarding TOP SAFETY PICK accolades to vehicles with the best performance in IIHS safety evaluations. TOUGHGUARD, introduced in 2017, recognizes good-performing rear underride guards on dry vans, refrigerated, intermodal, and other trailer types.

This collaboration, announced at an event held alongside the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in Washington D.C., follows a similar approach by the Index in Europe, where EuroNCAP ratings for vehicles, vans, and trucks form the guidelines for new fleet vehicle procurement policies under the Index.

Stefano Ammirati FIA Road Safety & Global Advocacy Director, said: “This is an important step in supporting U.S.-based organizations to make safer choices that protect their employees and other road users. Working with the IIHS shows how the FIA Road Safety Index can drive change, fostering real and measurable improvements in vehicle safety for organizations committed to the safest journeys for everyone.”

David Harkey, President of IIHS, said: “The IIHS safety awards have been informing American consumers for two decades and their inclusion in the FIA Road Safety Index is an important step forward for the nation’s commercial fleets. This joint effort will take on even more significance soon as we expand IIHS ratings to delivery vans, Class 3 pickups, and larger commercial vehicles and add side underride protection to the TOUGHGUARD criteria.”

Natalie Draisin, FIA Foundation North America Director, said: “Companies and organizations around the world are building their commitment to safer streets. In the U.S., we are seeing some of the biggest companies, such as Amazon and Uber, commit to protecting their employees and the public through the Index. Safe vehicles are an important component of the system. The IIHS standards make it easier for organizations to invest in the safest vehicle fleets for consumers and investors to make informed choices.”

For media enquiries please contact:

· Laure Mercier Roussel, FIA Head of Mobility Communications: lmercier@fia.com

· George Mitchell, FIA Mobility Communications Officer: gmitchell@fia.com

· Kate Turner, Media Manager of the FIA Foundation: k.turner@fiafoundation.org