The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety will be releasing a series of videos showing real vehicle testing at their Vehicle Research Center in Ruckersville, Virginia. 3 episodes are currently available on the IIHS YouTube Page, and a new video will be posted every Tuesday through June and up to early July.

So far, the videos are well produced and oddly mesmerizing. The crash testing process is really amazing to watch from a scientific perspective, and as a consumer, it is comforting to know just how much these vehicles are put through their paces to determine their safety. Every scenario is considered and played out in a controlled environment so that when a real accident happens, the driver and passengers are kept as safe from harm as possible.

The full series of videos is available here, and the IIHS also has additional videos for sale on their website addressing topics from teen drivers to child safety in a vehicle.

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Derek Thayer loved his Chevy truck. He took pride in its American-made quality. When the tornado hit his town earlier this week, his truck was flipped over and dragged by the wind into another yard. Somehow it managed to land on four wheels, but there was considerable damage to the vehicle. It seemed that the truck was a complete loss.

Strangely enough, Derek discovered that he could still start the engine on his truck. Other damage to the truck makes it unsafe to drive, but he was proud that his truck went through a tornado and could still start. It was a small victory but a victory nonetheless. According to ABC15, he called his favorite truck “American-made goodness,” and we couldn’t agree more.

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The survey conducted by CarSafetyRules.com asked 1,000 new car buyers in the United Kingdom which brands they expected to improve auto safety. Out of the respondents, 26 percent of women chose Apple, and 23 percent of men chose Google. Volvo was tied with Google amongst men, and it was only 1 of 2 automakers named in the survey. Volvo scored 17 percent of the women surveyed, and 20 percent of men and 14 percent of women responded Mercedes.

It isn’t all that surprising that Google ranks so high in the survey. There has been a lot of talk in the past year about Google working on a self-driving car, so it is only natural that people are associating Google with auto safety technology. It is surprising, though, that Apple is ranking so high. I can only imagine that people believe Apple can do anything, including making cars safer. Considering Apple’s distinctive look, I could picture them making the transition to auto design and technology.

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First up, many insurance companies offer discounts for students that earn a certain GPA or higher or earn a spot on the Dean’s List or Honor Roll. Usually it is a B average or a 3.0, but it varies by insurance company. Young drivers who earn good grades should ask about this discount since it can mean as much as a 10 percent discount.

Second, insurance companies like repeat business. If a driver has life insurance or property insurance with one company, that insurance company is likely to give a discount when they want to get auto insurance. Savings can range anywhere from 10 percent all the way up to 25 percent depending on the company and the type of insurance the customer already has.

Finally, there is the obvious notion that insurance companies want safe drivers. It is widely known that insurance companies reward drivers who have been accident-free for three years or more , but it is less known that paying for a few extra safety features will also save money in the long run. Many insurance companies offer incentives to drivers with anti-theft devices or anti-lock brakes. Once again, this can vary according to insurance company, so be sure to ask your insurance agent for more details.

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Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net