Automobile manufacturers have come a long way since the era when it was acceptable for cars not to come equipped with seat belts, and steering wheels had fancy ornaments that could potentially spear the driver in a crash. In the present day, front and side impact airbags, ABS brakes, stability control systems, and other technological perks have increased automobile safety. Still, many car defects are present in cars including defective seatbelts, tires, doors and airbags.

When it comes to vehicle safety, the cream rises to the top, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has selected 34 automobiles worthy of their 2008 Top Car Safety Pick Award. This honor pays homage to the vehicles which perform the best on front, side, and rear crash tests. Award winners must also be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC), which has been proven to lower the risk of crashing.

Front and side impact are the most frequent forms of deadly crashes; out of 31,000 passengers who were killed in 2005, close to 25,000 of those were involved in front and side collisions. Rear impact is rarely fatal, but it can be blamed for many of the chronic injuries associated with car accidents such as back and neck problems caused by whiplash. In 2002, approximately 60 percent of insurance injury claims stated slight neck sprains and strains.

Looking back on this past year, auto manufacturers have almost tripled the amount of vehicles that make the cut of Top Automobile Safety Pick. At the start of the 2007 model year, only 13 vehicles met the criteria. However, carmakers made a concerted effort throughout the year to go back to the drawing board and released ten vehicles with more secure designs. An additional 11 vehicles are honorees for 2008. Here are the winners for safest cars broken down by category: