Safe Cars

BILLINGS - A national safety group is making sure passengers are better protected during rollover accidents. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has new tests to measure roof strength. The result has been a dramatic drop in the number of vehicles receiving the institute's top safety pick award for 2010. Last year, 94 models from nearly every manufacturer got the award. This year, only 27 are got it. Most manufacturers are represented, but with fewer models. "For a "good" rating what we're looking for is a roof that will withstand a force that is equal to four times that vehicles weight," said Adrian Lund, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "So, that when that vehicles rolls over, it's less likely that the roof will crush." Subaru is the only manufacturer with a winner in all four vehicle classes. Winners of the 2010 top safety pick award can be found by clicking here.