The Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) recently testified at a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public hearing on the U.S. New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
NCAP, also called the 5-Stars for Cars program, has not been updated in years.
MEMA made three requests in its testimony: NHTSA should establish a roadmap for manufacturers that includes realistic milestones with associated deliverables. NHTSA should fulfill the congressional mandate under the FAST Act of 2015 to require crash-avoidance information to be presented next to crash-worthiness information on new car labels. NCAP should align with other global regional NCAP programs.
“MEMA recognizes that – yes – there are market challenges; advanced safety features typically have a slow adoption curve due to lack of consumer understanding and acceptance as well as to their reluctance to pay a premium,” Leigh Merino, MEMA senior director of regulatory affairs, said. “Computing power and sensor capabilities have rapidly improved with each new generation of these systems making them more widely available and under a range of price-points. As the rapid pace of technology and market penetration continues, this trajectory will only continue. Advanced safety technologies, if widely adopted, have the potential to drastically reduce fatalities, injuries and property damage claims.”
NHTSA’s comment period ends Oct. 31.