Recently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety revealed which vehicles earned its top safety awards honors. Ford had seven vehicles among the list of 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ award-winners, with world-renowned models like the Explorer and Bronco Sport. 

The 2022 Ford Bronco Sport and Explorer were both awarded the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, the highest honor the organization bestows. This marks a consecutive TSP+ victory performance for both the Bronco Sport and the Explorer. Five other vehicles — the Edge, Escape, F-150 SuperCab and SuperCrew, and Mustang Mach-E — earned the Top Safety Pick.

To be able to win a TOP SAFETY PICK+, vehicles must also come with a front crash prevention system that earns advanced or superior scores in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian tests. Ratings of good or acceptable for headlights must be standard on all models, regardless of trim level.

The main thing that allows a vehicle to earn that extra plus sign for the award is based on the headlights. To be a TSP+ winner, every headlight provided with the Bronco Sport and Explorer had to earn scores of good or acceptable. A Top Safety Pick merely has to offer one optional pair of headlights that earn either score.

IIHS officially put several changes into play for the 2023 Top Safety Pick awards. Specifically, vehicles will be required to take a more challenging side crash test conducted at a higher speed, but still earning a Top Safety Pick with an acceptable score.

IIHS will also add a nighttime pedestrian crash prevention test, and vehicles must earn advanced or superior ratings to earn the Top Safety Pick+.

Lastly, it will be necessary for vehicles to have good or acceptable headlights provided on all trims and packages to earn either the TSP or TSP+. IIHS President David Harkey stated that the higher number of TSP+ winners “shows that it’s time to push for additional changes.” This, he suggests, will continue to allow vehicles to become safer.