According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 42,815 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2002. Driving a safe vehicle is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family while you're on the road. If you or someone you know is in the market for a car or truck in 2005, the vehicle's safety should, of course, be a top priority.

Below are the top three safest and least safe vehicles in the seven most common consumer vehicle categories. This is a cumulative ranking based on the results of multiple testing organizations including the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Consumer Reports and Safe Car Guide.

"N/A" means sufficient data was not yet available for "Most Unsafe" in several categories below.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Consumer Reports

Safe Car Guide