According to the recent results of tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the current lineup of Audi vehicles that are sold in the US are among the safest there is. The recent crash tests conducted by both organizations have showed that Audi is among the best in the industry with regards to passenger safety and vehicle crash worthiness.

For the 2008 Top Safety Pick, IIHS has added the Audi A3 in the midsize category. Meanwhile the 2007 Top Safety Pick winners A4 and A6 continue as 2008 Top Safety Pick’s awardees in the midsize and large car category, respectively. So far Audi is the only German luxury automaker with the distinction of having three models included in IIHS Top Safety Pick.

In order to qualify for the Top Safety Pick Award, vehicles must obtained a top rating of good for passenger protection in off-set frontal, side, and rear crash tests. For the 2008 Top Safety Pick now include occupant safety measures and crash prevention criterion. Additional requirement is the electronic stability program which is offered in all Audi vehicles as standard feature.

The Audi Q7 SUV was also tested in 2007 for crash worthiness and obtained the highest possible rating of ‘Five-star’ for driver and passenger in a frontal collision and front and rear passengers in a side collision. The ‘Five-star’ means that there is less than a 5 percent chance of serious injury to passengers in case of a collision. Frontal tests are conducted to measure the impact on the head, neck, chest, and pelvis on front passengers, while side tests show the chance of a serious chest injury for both front and rear seat passengers.

Audi is loaded with a comprehensive list of active safety features that include four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system (ABS), an electronic stability program and daytime running lights (DRL) and tire pressure monitoring system which is newly offered on all 2008 models. All these features are added to lessen the chances of a collision.

Many standard passive safety features found in Audi vehicles are designed to protect occupants in the event of a collision. Aside from standard features, there are also several optional safety features offered that enhance driving experience such as the Audi lane assist.  This new safety feature is equipped with camera that monitors the vehicle’s path of travel, and will slightly vibrate the steering wheel once the driver swerve from its current lane without signaling. This calls the attention of the driver reminding him or her that he or she is changing lane. The sensitivity of the lane sensor can be adjusted using the Audi MMI controller.

Last 2006, Audi Q7 has offered an industry first in safety technology called Audi side assist which is a blind spot protection. It is now offered on the 2008 A6/S6 and A8/S8 models. This system is capable of monitoring up to 165 feet behind the vehicle and warns the driver whenever a vehicle appears in their blind spot. The Audi site assist helps ensure that the driver is aware that changing lanes could be dangerous and must therefore used extra caution.