Traffic-safety advocates say seat belts save lives, but data show many people still don’t buckle up.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the midsize models its highest safety rating.

Updated SUV provides better second-row passenger protection.

Mazda hybrid wins the highest honor while a redesigned BMW gets the second-highest.

None did well on back-seat protection, and their bulk makes some crashes hard to manage.

IIHS, Consumer Reports suggest used and new models with top safety ratings and less room for error, dangerous driving.

Two other models in the automaker’s line fare less well in IIHS crash tests.

IIHS increases requirements for its top awards in challenge to automakers to increase backseat, pedestrian safety.

Training, technology and processes will help windshield, collision and after-market repair centers approach crash-avoidance systems properly.

Follows calls by national safety groups to curb aggressive driving.