MENU
SEARCHThe Insurance Institute for Highway Safety names the small luxury SUV a Top Safety Pick+ award winner.
Photo: IIHS
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named the 2016 BMW X1 SUV a Top Safety Pick+ award winner.
The model qualified for the honor after a redesign boosted its performance in the IIHS small overlap front crash test. Additionally, the BMW X1 has a new optional front crash prevention system that earned an “advanced” rating.
The X1 drew the highest score possible — a rating of “good” — in the small overlap test. In the test, “the driver’s space was maintained reasonably well, with maximum intrusion of about 4 inches at the lower door hinge pillar and at the instrument panel,” IIHS said in a released statement. “In contrast, in the test of the previous version, intrusion reached 16 inches at the footwell, trapping the dummy’s right foot.”
Like its predecessor, the new X1 also earned “good” ratings in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint tests.
The X1’s newly available front crash prevention system performed well, too. In track tests at 12 mph, impact speed was reduced by an average of 10 mph. In the 25 mph tests, impact speed was reduced by 7 mph, according to IIHS. The system includes a forward collision warning component that meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration criteria.
To qualify for Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle must have “good” ratings in all five crashworthiness tests and an available front crash prevention system that draws an “advanced” or “superior” rating.
Distracted driving remains one of the most persistent risks in fleet operations. New approaches focus on removing mobile device use entirely while adding real-time safety support.
Read More →
As distraction risks evolve, fleets are turning to smarter, more connected technologies to better understand what’s happening behind the wheel. Part 2 explores how these tools are helping identify risky behaviors and improve visibility across operations.
Read More →
What fleets capture to improve safety can also expose them in litigation, forcing leaders to rethink how data is managed, stored, and shared.
Read More →
Distracted driving is often measured by what we can see—phones in hand, eyes off the road. But what about the distractions we can’t? A recent incident raises a bigger question about awareness, attention, and why subtle risks so often go unnoticed.
Read More →
While serious crashes are declining, a rise in minor incidents and ongoing risk hotspots underscore the need for continued fleet safety investment.
Read More →
Fleets have more driver data than ever, so why isn't behavior changing? Training requires more than reports and coaching — it requires real-world practice.
Read More →
A two-part conversation with Stefan Heck on how AI is transforming the fight against distracted driving. As fleets adopt smarter tools, the focus shifts from reacting to preventing risk. In Part 1, we look at where AI is making an impact for fleets today.
Read More →
More people on foot means more risk for drivers. These pedestrian safety tips can help prevent serious injuries and keep everyone safer on the road.
Read More →
Safer crews. Fewer incidents. Better uptime. Learn how driver-assist technology is changing the way vocational fleets operate.
Read More →
An 11% drop in pedestrian fatalities in early 2025 signals progress in U.S. road safety, but elevated death rates and ongoing risks underscore the need for continued action from fleets and policymakers.
Read More →
