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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is responsible for crash-testing new vehicle models and reporting the results to help consumers make safer vehicle choices. Models that score exceptionally well in IIHS crash tests are given a "Top Safety Pick" award for their impact performance. It's a designation which indicates a car, truck or SUV that goes above and beyond when it comes to occupant protection.

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Crash Tested Ford Taurus Show Safety Leadership: Taurus earns the highest available rating of five stars in frontal and side crash tests; earned five stars for rollover resistance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is rated a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. (03/18/08)

In light of recent testing of their 2009 models, it's Ford Motor Company that's earned more Top Safety Pick ratings form the institute than any other automaker, with a total of 16 vehicles to date. The announcement means that Ford's surpassed their closest rival, Honda, this week.

Achieving the "Top Safety Pick" rating requires a vehicle to achieve top marks in front, side and rear impact testing, while also being sold with standard electronic stability control to help prevent a crash from occurring in the first place.

Most recently, the 2009 Ford Flex and Fusion models earned the rating from the IIHS, as did the Lincoln MKS and Mercury Milan. Ford partly credits extensive use of ultra-high strength boron steel in their B-Pillar for side impact protection.

Other features like side and side-curtain airbags help to prevent or reduce injuries if the vehicle is struck from the side, and Ford's AdvanceTrac stability control can pro-actively limit or eliminate wheelspin or sliding to help prevent a loss of control.

Susan Cischke, Ford's group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, comments "leading the industry in 'Top Safety Picks' is great news, because IIHS tests are some of the most demanding conducted outside of our own laboratories, and customers are increasingly relying on them when choosing a new vehicle".