In an effort to reduce roadway deaths, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finalized updates to its 5-Star Safety Ratings Program for vehicle safety features Monday.
The agency said the updates will improve safety on our nation’s roads by incorporating new driver assistance technologies, and create a roadmap for future program changes over the next decade. Part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the upgrade to the 5-Star Safety Ratings program, also known as the New Car Assessment Program, emphasizes new and emerging safety technologies and vehicle safety features to help protect people inside and outside of the vehicle.
“This action today is another important step toward addressing the crisis on our roads and achieving the Department’s ambitious, long-term goal of zero road fatalities,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “Like our move earlier this year to make automatic emergency braking standard on new passenger cars and light trucks, these changes to the 5-Star Safety Ratings will speed up adoption of technologies that reduce the frequency and severity of crashes while helping consumers make informed decisions about buying a new car.”
Updates to the program include an additional four advanced driver assistance technologies that enhance crash-avoidance safety; updated and strengthened testing procedures and performance criteria; additions of crashworthiness pedestrian protection program; and midterm and long-term roadmaps to accommodate future updates.
“Our goal with NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings program has always been to help consumers choose safer vehicles and to encourage manufacturers to improve vehicle safety,” NHTSA Chief Counsel Adam Raviv said. “With these NCAP updates, we’re ensuring consumers have more useful and relevant information on the latest safety technologies and that the program keeps up with the pace of technological change and innovation.”