Ford F-150 Named IIHS Top Safety Pick
Thanks to optional automatic braking, the pickup truck now qualifies for the prestigious award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Photo of 2018 Ford F-150 courtesy of Ford.

Photo of 2018 Ford F-150 courtesy of Ford.
The 2018 Ford F-150 pickup truck, when equipped with optional front crash prevention, has earned the 2017 Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
To earn the 2017 Top Safety Pick award, a vehicle must draw the highest possible rating of “good” in five IIHS crashworthiness tests — driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints. Additionally, the vehicle must earn a rating of “advanced” or “superior” for front crash prevention.
Both the crew cab and the extended cab versions of the F-150 meet those criteria when equipped with optional front crash prevention, IIHS said. The F-150 avoided collisions in IIHS track tests at 12 mph and 25 mph. The truck also has a forward collision warning component that meets criteria from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The F-150’s headlights, however, fall short of the “acceptable” or “good” rating needed to qualify for the Top Safety Pick+ award, IIHS said. All the available headlights on the F-150 drew a rating of “poor.”
“The base halogen headlights have inadequate visibility in all scenarios,” IIHS said in a released statement about the award. “The optional LED headlights provide somewhat better visibility, but the low beams create excessive glare for oncoming drivers.”
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