One thing about this testing that could make it a whole lot more useful.
Do exactly what they do ..... and add in a similar test after an OEM prescribed Aiming procedure is correctly done.
( IIHS has already played with this and has a note or two about it somewhere.)
From the looks of it, it is possible the LaCrosse might have done a whole lot better with even just a 'Basic' Aim provided; because obviously or so it would seem.... a kind of Industry wide SOP Aim of Low and to the Right is provided.
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As far as the 2017 Class ratings for the Large Car Class they put LaCrosse into, most do not have either a complete set of Ratings nor the Headlight Evaluation. Many have low enough scores somewhere in these partial sets in such a way as to preclude them from a Top Safety Pick / Top Safety Pick +.
( Have not looked at the 2016s which may be 'helpful' 'somehow' for some 2017 indication. )
So 2017 Avalon is the other one, and it also receives the same; Top Safety Pick...... with no Plus.
( Remember..... 2017 LaCrosse tests at considerably higher weights while clobbering Avalon in NHTSA Frontal Impact Testing. )
Three Headlight ratings are provided; going up in cost and down in availability they are a Poor, Poor, and a Marginal.
( Believe it or not.... seems possible that at least some of this endemic Head Light fail is also a factor in the Car's demise..... via the 'non Car'. Bad lighting at least feels better if you are sitting higher up - )
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LEDs are arguably ..... 'most' desirable from a MPG point of view; but so far, as OEM installed and as tested @ IIHS.... they are not showing much, if any of a superiority over HID and actually even with regard to some lesser others.
Don't know where the big Tally stands as of this post, but I do recall some Group Testing or consolidated Reporting where they actually in net, did worse.
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This testing is desirable to have although it could be augmented for good effect in more than one way.
Shame we haven't had something like or better from say 193x onward. But especially so since when the Lighting Regs were 'relaxed'.
As usual, the Corporatists ( aka the young budding Fascista in progress regardless of their self chosen labels ) went on and on as to how all the Old Regs were holding back progress. And all that stood in the way of a bright and shining future was the Federal Regs standing in the Middle of the Road.
To be sure, they did need to be revised, updated, and loosened up. And that, if done properly, could have been for tremendous positive effect.
But of course, that is not what we got.
In yet another version of the Ole' False Choice you always get when the GD Industry Lobbyists are foolishly allowed to literally write all the Law and Code Revisions etc etc.
And sure enough, the Industry frittered away most of the possible Safety benefits while also over all providing a lesser performance with the Basics. And also introducing new and Serious Safety Fail.
Especially in a vehicle lifetime sense.
Foggy Lenses any one ?
On a completely piss poor Lighting assembly to begin with ?
Aimed improperly from Day One ?????
So we have needed this kinda' of testing or even better with a little more....... even more so since eh... at least back to somewhere in the late '80s - early mid '90s.
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Very much related in so many ways..... we can now see what a disaster it is when the fully corrupt NHTSA steps away from the common sense applications of some pretty simple rules concerning AT Shifters that worked 'perfectly' - and Companies like GM, throw out their Own Rule Books. That many on this Forum liked to make fun of.
( The very Real Phenomena of UA / SUA - and not just with regard to Toyota, as always, multiplies any and all things like this. )
So..... then we need consider Stack, and Stack 'Effect'.
Well, you go add up all the new fail and take a look at the Safety Data and the amazing thing is that the what ? death rate or serious reported incident rate ( can't remember the correct description so one of the major indices is actually best ) has now with over rounding, 'ONLY' produced a 110% increase times a 110 % increase in the wrong direction.
Which is a first the USA can be so very proud of because, since Auto Safety became a real thing..... that has never happened before. ( And by Golly, they are all so very desperate to explain it away and also avoid certain comparisons to much further back. ) That works out to about a 31% rate increase in just Two Years time.
And they want to go Autonomous......
Sure enough, the Lies that this will solve all of these Problems and much much more while not creating new and even sometimes unforeseen - massively negative consequences have already been circulating for a while now.
They now even talk of fully eliminating all, or almost all Fatalities.
Meanwhile... all, literally damn near all the Basics continue to..... 'go to Hell...in a Handbasket'.
We really really...... really need...... shall we say a Serious.... 'Purge' of the just the right kind......
Feel free to take that last .......... anywhere you want.