“This action is another vital step toward our goal of zero road fatalities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The updates to the 5-Star Safety Ratings will accelerate the adoption of life-saving technologies and empower consumers to make safer choices.”
Highlights of the New Program
- Enhanced Technologies: Four new advanced driver assistance systems are now included: pedestrian automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind spot warning, and blind spot intervention.
- Pedestrian Safety: A crashworthiness pedestrian protection program evaluates vehicles’ front-end designs to minimize injuries in pedestrian collisions.
- Improved Testing Standards: Strengthened testing protocols for existing features, including automatic emergency braking.
- Forward-Looking Changes: A roadmap outlines mid- and long-term updates, with plans to incorporate protections for bicyclists and motorcyclists and refine the rating system further.
This overhaul reflects the rapid advancements in automotive technology and aligns with the Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy, which prioritizes reducing severe injuries and fatalities.
Since its inception, NCAP has provided consumers with crucial insights into vehicle safety, offering objective ratings on a five-star scale. These updates ensure the program stays relevant and encourages manufacturers to adopt emerging safety innovations.
NCAP is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) premier consumer information program for assessing vehicle safety.
The program rigorously tests how well vehicles perform in various crash scenarios, ensuring safety standards are met.
These tests include evaluating a vehicle’s resilience during front, side, and rear impacts, as well as its rollover risk.
By analyzing these aspects, NCAP provides consumers with a detailed understanding of a vehicle’s safety profile.
The results are summarized into a straightforward five-star rating scale for easy comparison.
This objective rating system empowers consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing a vehicle.
NCAP has become a cornerstone of consumer confidence, driving advancements in automotive safety technology.
The program’s comprehensive approach ensures that vehicle manufacturers prioritize safety in their designs.
For buyers, NCAP’s ratings simplify the process of identifying safer vehicle options in a crowded market.
With its rigorous evaluation standards, NCAP continues to set the benchmark for automotive safety excellence.