DOT Recommends Updated Safety Rating System For New Vehicles

DOT Recommends Updated Safety Rating System For New Vehicles

The new DOT proposal takes into consideration new and emerging vehicle technologies.

DOT Department of Transportation - LogoEarlier this week, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed a series of changes to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) 5-Star Safety Ratings, also known as the New Car Assessment Program. Under the current program, NHTSA crash tests new vehicles and rates their ability to protect occupants in frontal, side and rollover crashes. The measurement can range from one to five stars, with five stars being the highest rating.

The new DOT proposal takes into consideration new and emerging vehicle technologies. The new standards include:

  • A new 5-Star Safety Ratings system, to encompass assessment of crash avoidance and advanced technologies as well as pedestrian protection
  • New tests to assess how well vehicles protect pedestrians from head, leg and pelvic injuries that occur when a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle
  • A new frontal oblique crash test that measures how well vehicles protect occupants in an angled frontal crash
  • An improved full frontal barrier crash test to drive safety improvements for rear seat occupants
  • New crash test dummies to provide improved data on the effects a crash will likely have on the human body
  • An assessment of additional crash-avoidance and advanced technologies that offer drivers the most potential for avoiding or mitigating crashes
  • Use of half-star increments to provide consumers more discriminating information about vehicle safety performance
  • The ability to dynamically update the program more swiftly as new safety technologies emerge

 

In reference to the proposal, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said, “NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings have set the bar on safety since they began in 1978, and today we are raising that bar. The changes provide more and better information to new-vehicle shoppers that will help accelerate the technology innovations that save lives.”

 

Click here to see the full DOT proposal.

 

The DOT will be collecting public comments for the next 60 days. NHTSA plans to issue a final decision notice by the end of 2016.

 

 

You May Also Like

SEMA Urges Members to Support Tax Relief Bill

The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 benefits specialty automotive aftermarket businesses, according to SEMA.

SEMA Action Network

SEMA is encouraging its members to reach out to their representatives and ask for their support on H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024. The bill, which The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on this week, benefits specialty automotive aftermarket businesses, according to SEMA, by allowing for the immediate expensing of R&D and investments in equipment and increasing the small business expensing cap by nearly 30%.

ASA Endorses Bipartisan Tax Framework

The Automotive Service Association says the legislation is beneficial for independent automotive repair businesses.

Industry Partners Urge Congress to Pass R&D Deductibility Fix

“Congress must restore this tax provision to enhance U.S. competitiveness, job creation and innovation as soon as possible,” said Ann Wilson, MEMA’s executive vice president of government affairs.

Legislators Challenge Vehicle Data Access ‘Double Standard’

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez joined other legislators in sending a letter to NHTSA about proposed guidance for implementing the Massachusetts Right to Repair law.

House Passes Bill to Stop EPA Emissions Mandate

The U.S. House passed the “Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act” (H.R. 4468) with bipartisan support.

Opposition Grows for California’s Mandate Banning New Gas-Powered Vehicle Sales

Other Posts

U.S. House Schedules Vote to Stop EPA Emissions Mandate

The SEMA-supported bill would prohibit the EPA from finalizing federal emissions standards for light- and medium-duty motor vehicles model years ’27 to ’32.

emissions
Section 301 Tariffs & Circumvention: A Closer Look

There’s buzz suggesting that these tariffs are likely here to stay, possibly with even steeper charges on specific items.

Maine Voters Overwhelmingly Back Right to Repair

Over 80% of Mainers voted “yes” to ensure that they and their repair shops can access vehicle diagnostic tools and data.

AAPEX Keynote: Right to Repair Takes Center Stage

While there are headwinds, Congressional support is moving the REPAIR Act forward.

Right to Repair AAPEX