A New Jersey law intended to help police enforce graduated licensing restrictions by requiring young drivers to display special decals is unpopular, widely flouted, and hasn't led to better compliance with the restrictions, an Institute study has found.

Status Report article: Vol. 46, No. 11, p. 4

New technologies could cut crashes dramatically, but don't count on them being everywhere tomorrow. A study by the Highway Loss Data Institute shows it takes about three decades for safety features to spread through the registered vehicle fleet.

Status Report Vol. 47, No. 1 cover article

New safety features take 3 decades on average to spread through the vehicle fleet, a HLDI report says

Bumper demonstration test shows easy way to solve mismatch problem when SUVs and cars collide

Final hours-of-service rule still allows truck drivers to spend up to 11 hours a day at the wheel

ARLINGTON, VA — The list of winners of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award is longer than ever this year, with vehicles in nearly every size category the Institute evaluates earning accolades. From minicars to sedans to pickups, consumers have a record number of choices among 2012 models.

TOP SAFETY PICK award goes to a record number of models for 2012 as automakers make changes to win

Winners by vehicle class

N.J. teen driver decal law is unpopular and hasn't raised teens' compliance with GDL restrictions

Crashes and near crashes are more common in the first 6 months after 16 year-olds begin driving

Hybrids' injury odds are lower than their gasoline-powered twins due to their heavier weight

Pedestrian injury claims are 20 percent higher for hybrid models than for standard models

Teenagers' crash risk gets worse when they ride motorcycles or drive sports cars

Alcohol-detection device project is now in development phase

ARLINGTON, VA — Hybrids have a safety edge over their conventional twins when it comes to shielding their occupants from injuries in crashes, new research by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, shows. On average, the odds of being injured in a crash are 25 percent lower for people in hybrids than people traveling in nonhybrid models.