NHTSA Finalizes Updates To 5-Star Ratings Program

Changes are finally coming to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 5-Star Safety Ratings Program, also known as the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). NHTSA recently announced the finalization of updates to the program that will take effective starting with the 2026 model year.

Updates include adding additional driver assistance technologies as part of crash test evaluations, as well incorporating a new crashworthiness pedestrian protection program. Federal safety regulators say the program update, included as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,  is designed to advance safety for vehicle occupants and pedestrians and also help car shoppers make informed decisions on new vehicle purchases. The update also sets a roadmap for future program changes over the next 10 years.  The goal is to reduce deaths on the nation's roads.

“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.”

Finalized updates to the program include:

• The addition of four advanced driver assistance technologies that will enhance crash-avoidance safety: pedestrian automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, blind spot warning and blind spot intervention.
• Updated and strengthened testing procedures and performance criteria for advanced driver assistance technologies that are already included in NCAP, such as automatic emergency braking. 
• The addition of a crashworthiness pedestrian protection program to evaluate the ability of a vehicle’s front end to mitigate pedestrian injuries and fatalities in vehicle-to-pedestrian impacts.
• Midterm and long-term roadmaps to accommodate future updates amid ongoing research and technological advancements in vehicle safety, including crash avoidance and crashworthiness improvements to protect bicyclists and motorcyclists and an updated rating system.

“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.” 

NCAP is NHTSA’s flagship consumer information program for evaluating vehicle safety. The program evaluates how well vehicles perform in various crash tests, including rollover risk, and provides an objective rating on a five-star scale to help consumers make an informed decision when buying a vehicle. For more info visit NHTSA.gov/Ratings. 

Photo:  2024 Cadillac Lyriq. NHTSA