WASHINGTON - The number of new cars considered the safest by the insurance industry nearly tripled in the past year, helped by automakers' push to make safety equipment more widely available.
The institute requires new cars and trucks to have electronic stability control, or ESC, to qualify for the award. Many auto companies are putting the antirollover technology into their fleets ahead of a government requirement for the systems by the 2012 model year.
"With ESC we have the possibility of preventing many crashes altogether," said Adrian Lund, institute president.
Lund cited studies that have estimated as many as 10,000 fatal crashes could be avoided annually if all vehicles had the technology.
Ford was represented on the list by the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable passenger cars with optional ESC, and the Ford Edge, Ford Taurus X, and Lincoln MKX midsize sport utility vehicles. The Volvo S80, C70 midsize convertible, and XC90 SUV, part of Ford's Volvo unit, made the list.
Ford has said previously it will put stability control on its entire lineup by the end of 2009.
Honda and its Acura unit had seven vehicles on the list: the Honda Accord, Odyssey, Pilot, CR-V, and Element, and the Acura MDX and RDX SUVs.