The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has given the 2019 to 2020 Ram 1500 crew cab its highest safety recognition when outfitted with specific headlights and optional front crash prevention.

The distinction is particularly noteworthy as the Ram 1500 is now the first large pickup across the industry to earn a Top Safety Pick+ from the institute.

The pickup was put through the paces and performed well — earning good ratings in six IIHS crashworthiness evaluations. These included the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests.

But to capture plus safety status, vehicles must also score an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention and a good headlight rating.

While The Institute previously released safety ratings for the redesigned Ram 1500, it didn't qualify for an award at the time because all its available headlights were poor or marginal.

“This recognition validates our unrelenting efforts to deliver more value for our customers,” says Reid Bigland, Head of Ram Brand. “The new Ram 1500 has earned many accolades for its capability and design. It is immensely satisfying to have the IIHS recognize our truck for its compelling safety story.”

However, this time around, the large pickup lived up to the institute’s criteria. The Ram 1500 crew cab garnered a good headlight rating for its available curve-adaptive LED projector headlights with high-beam assist for models built after May. Models with the same headlights built earlier earn a poor headlight rating due to excessive glare.

As for crash prevention, the Ram 1500 again delivered strong results. The pickup's optional front crash prevention system earned a superior rating in IIHS track tests, avoiding collisions in 12 mph and 25 mph track tests. The feature boasts a sensor-fusion technology, which blends camera capability with radar detection to determine when an impact is imminent, notes the automaker. Moreover, its forward collision warning component meets the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s criteria.