When you think of driving a car, what is the first thought that comes into your mind?\u00a0 A dream of driving your favorite exotic sports car\u2026\u00a0 The feeling of seemingly limitless freedom when you first received your driver\u2019s license\u2026\u00a0\u00a0 The endless sea of brake lights in front of you that time you were caught in the worst traffic ever\u2026\u00a0 Did anyone immediately think of fastening your seat belt? Checking your mirrors? Making sure your airbags are turned on?\u00a0 Safety may not have been the first thought in your mind, and that\u2019s okay; however, safety while driving should be one of your first thoughts.\u00a0 Always.\u00a0 Your life may depend on it.<\/p>\n
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In America, we are constantly persuaded, swayed, or tempted by commercial advertising to want a vehicle based on the emotions that it will invoke within us.\u00a0 The allure and status of driving a particular luxury car brand.\u00a0 The fuel economy of the newest electric-powered vehicle promising less maintenance and upkeep.\u00a0 The notion that no other car or truck is built Ford Tough like yours was.\u00a0 Far be it from me to tell you which make or model is \u201cthe best\u201d or best fits your lifestyle and why.\u00a0 My intention is merely to point out that vehicle safety should be the most important consideration when shopping for a new car or truck.<\/p>\n
In Texas in 2016, 3,773 deaths occurred in motor vehicle accidents, up 5.45% from the prior year.\u00a0 Over 17,000 people suffered serious injuries on Texas roadways last year.\u00a0 Almost half of the traffic fatalities occurred in urban areas, and as such, almost half were in rural areas.\u00a0 Vehicle safety is not just a concern for people in big cities, or people with enough money to buy a luxury car.\u00a0 Vehicle safety reaches every corner, every town, and every person that steps foot inside a vehicle even if they don\u2019t drive \u2013 your kids, your dog, your mother-in-law.<\/p>\n
Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers\u00a0wants to help make vehicle safety a top priority in your life.\u00a0 Despite all the risks associated with driving, each year auto manufacturers continue to produce safer vehicles as technology stimulates innovative new ideas and defenses to protect consumers.\u00a0 There are many publications that each claim to definitively rank which new vehicles are the safest each year \u2013 US News, Consumer Reports, Kelley Blue Book, Car and Driver, etc. \u2013 based on their own unique ways of testing and probing the new model year vehicles.\u00a0 To help with the collection, review, and comparison of each publication\u2019s particular rankings, Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers has compiled its own list of \u201cSafest Cars for 2017\u201d based on the voluminous reports and publications out there for consumers.\u00a0 Find out if the next car you want to buy is on our list, starting with our Top 5\u2026<\/p>\n
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Top 5\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n #5 \u2013 Honda Accord<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the best-selling brands of cars in America for three decades, the Honda Accord is seemingly always on a \u201cbest cars\u201d list each year.\u00a0 The Accord for 2017 is no exception, taking home prestigious rankings by US News & World Report, Forbes, and the Drive.\u00a0 The Accord also received the top safety rating (Top Safety Pick +) from the IIHS \u2013 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety[1]<\/a> – and a Kelley Blue Book Expert Rating of 9.3 out of 10.\u00a0 The 2017 model is the first to incorporate Honda\u2019s new HondaSensing safety features \u2013 rear-view camera, brake assist – in the vehicle as standard equipment.\u00a0 The Accord is modestly priced in the $20,000\u2019s depending on whether you need leather seats or the best new technology.<\/p>\n #4 \u2013 Chevrolet Volt<\/strong><\/p>\n Chevy\u2019s second generation plug-in hybrid is capable of going 53 miles without gasoline, or if necessary, averages 103 mpg overall (EPA).\u00a0\u00a0 While its fuel economy is its most prominent feature, this vehicle is also one of the safest on the road.\u00a0 It comes with 10 airbags and a rear-view camera standard, with optional safety features that rival those of much more expenses luxury cars.\u00a0 As with all other vehicles on this list, the Volt also received an IIHS top safety rating of TSP+ and a KBB Expert Rating of 9.0.\u00a0 The standard model will start in the low $30,000\u2019s, but you may also qualify for up to $7,500 in federal tax credits.<\/p>\n #3 \u2013 Genesis G80<\/strong><\/p>\n Hyundai\u2019s high-end model brand, Genesis, is only a decade old, but that doesn\u2019t preclude it from producing an impressive lineup of safe and valuable vehicles.\u00a0 The 2017 G80 not only received a perfect 5-star rating from the NHTSA \u2013 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration[2]<\/a> – but also received the IIHS TPS+ rating.\u00a0 Needless to say, this is objectively one of the safest cars on the road, and its advanced safety features won\u2019t cost you extra.\u00a0 The standard <\/em>safety features include automatic braking, blind spot warning, lane assist, lane change alerts, and rear cross traffic alerts.\u00a0\u00a0 With a KBB Expert Rating of 9.2, and a starting price at about $40,000, it is the most expense model on Daniel Stark\u2019s Top 5.<\/p>\n #2 \u2013 Volvo S60<\/strong><\/p>\n Volvo is a brand name synonymous with safety.\u00a0 The company has pledged to have no person seriously injured or killed in one of their cars by the year 2020 in the company\u2019s new project, Vision 2020.\u00a0 The S60 is a step toward this vision.\u00a0 Similar to the Genesis, the S60 boasts a 5-star NHTSA safety rating, and is an IIHS TPS+ award winner.\u00a0 While its standard equipment does not include a rear-view camera (which quickly becoming the standard on most models), Volvo has included more high end safety features as standard equipment such as HID projector headlights with active cornering technology and low-speed automatic emergency braking.\u00a0 If the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about driving a car is safety, then you probably already own a Volvo.\u00a0 But if you don\u2019t, and you want a vehicle produced by a company whose sole focus is on your<\/em> safety, the Volvo S60 starts at around $30,000.<\/p>\n #1 \u2013 Subaru Legacy<\/strong><\/p>\n Surprisingly, the Subaru Legacy is present on every 2017 customer review and award publication.\u00a0 Is it because of the 5-star NHTSA safety rating?\u00a0 The elusive IIHS TPS+ rating?\u00a0 Great price range, starting in the low $20,000s?\u00a0 While it\u2019s certainly not the most advertised vehicle, the most popular vehicle, or the cheapest, the Subaru Legacy will give you the most safety for your dollar.\u00a0 Along with a suite of standard and optional safety features, the Legacy will also give you Subaru\u2019s standard all-wheel drive.\u00a0 It\u2019s no wonder that Subaru is ranked as one of the safest and most dependable vehicle manufacturers by the American Consumer Satisfaction Index.\u00a0 The Legacy takes the coveted position as #1 in our DS Top 5 due to its overall quality, dependability, and safety.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Honorable Mentions<\/strong><\/p>\n While the different magazines, publications, and online lists of the safest cars in 2017 will include various types of vehicles such as minivans, trucks, or SUV\u2019s, our list focused mainly on those vehicle models which appeared on multiple lists (some were on every<\/strong> list).\u00a0 Unintentionally, the DS Top 5 includes all cars, so to broaden the spectrum a bit we will discuss the Safest Truck, Safest Minivan, and Safest SUV, according to their rankings and presence on national reports.<\/p>\n SUV \u2013 Acura MDX<\/strong><\/p>\n While not a perfect rating in all the crash tests, the MDX received top marks from the NHTSA overall, and also took home an IIHS TPS+ designation.\u00a0 Every MDX will include lane assist, emergency braking, rear cross traffic assist, and rear-view camera features.\u00a0 Standard.\u00a0 The \u201ctechnology\u201d optional package bumped up the safety feature to an even higher level.\u00a0 At a price though, starting in the mid-$40,000 range.\u00a0 No other SUV contains a higher quality package of safety features than the MDX.<\/p>\n Minivan \u2013 Chrysler Pacifica<\/strong><\/p>\n The only minivan in 2017 to receive the IIHS TPS+ safety designation was the Pacifica.\u00a0 It also received a 5-star safety rating from the NHTSA.\u00a0 While most of the advanced safety features are available with optional packages, the standard package will provide a rear-view camera.\u00a0\u00a0 KBB\u2019s Expert rating is a stellar 9.3 and will start out at around $30,000.\u00a0 The Pacifica will seat 7-8 passengers and provide above 30 mpg on top of its high safety marks.\u00a0 Clearly a perfect choice for a larger family with an eye on safety.<\/p>\n Truck \u2013 Honda Ridgeline<\/strong><\/p>\n A car, minivan, or SUV will not meet the needs of many Texans\u2019 daily lives.\u00a0 The truck is king in the Lone Star State.\u00a0 But which model will provide you the most safety?\u00a0 It\u2019s not Dodge, Ford, or Chevy.\u00a0 Japanese automaker Honda claims the title of safest truck in Texas with its unique Ridgeline.\u00a0 The only truck to appear in multiple national rankings, and the only truck in 2017 awarded by the IIHS with a TPS+ designation was the Ridgeline.\u00a0 This truck can be equipped with a staggering amount of safety features \u2013 through Honda\u2019s new HondaSensing features \u2013 and was also awarded a 5-star crash rating by the NHTSA.\u00a0 No other truck has the safety features and design than the Ridgeline and is far and away the safest truck in Texas.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n