Pedestrian automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assist and blind spot warning will be added to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) five-star crash test ratings, according to an NHTSA press release. 

NHTSA announced Monday the finalization of changes to the rating program, known as the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). The updates are required by a 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. 

“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 in the release. “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.”

The updates also will strengthen testing procedures and performance criteria for advanced driver assistance technologies that are already included in the NCAP, such as AEB. 

A crashworthiness pedestrian protection program is being added to the NCAP, the release says. This will evaluate the vehicle’s ability to mitigate pedestrian injuries and fatalities in vehicle-to-pedestrian impacts. 

“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 in the release. “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.”

The release says the NCAP is NHTSA’s flagship consumer information program for evaluating vehicle safety. For more information on the program visit NHTSA.gov/Ratings. 

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