GM Pickup Trucks First to Score Five-Star Safety Rating
GM has something new to boast about: its line of half-ton trucks is the first to garner a five-star safety rating under government rules revised for the 2011 model year.
“Silverado and Sierra set a benchmark for pickup truck safety by offering a full array of advanced features designed to protect occupants before, during and after a collision,” said Gay Kent, GM general director of vehicle safety and crashworthiness.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) only tested crew cab models of the Silverado and Sierra pickups, which GM expects will account for 60 percent of 2014 light-duty sales.
SEE ALSO: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado Review – Video
Meanwhile, the Ram 1500, Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra all received four-star ratings, although the 2014 Tundra has not been rated yet.
General Motors offers a long list of safety systems in its trucks, some of which are exclusive to the segment. Those include forward collision alert, lane departure warning and a safety alert seat that vibrates to warn drives of hazards.
Other safety upgrades include new backup rear cameras, standard lap belt pre-tensioners in the front seats and six standard airbags including GM’s recent seat-mounted side-impact airbag.
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Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> and <A title="Luke on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/112531385961538774338?rel=author">Google+</A>.
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Welcome to the party pickup truck drivers :)