Changes to Vehicle Crash Tests and Safety Ratings

The federal government would improve its automobile crash tests and strengthen its five-star vehicle safety rating system under a plan unveiled today by U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters during a visit to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Under the improvements suggested for the five-star safety rating program – known as the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) - vehicles will be subjected to more stringent rollover, frontal and side crash tests.

• Read the Press Release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
• Read the NHTSA Plan (in PDF format)
• Research Vehicle Safety, from FindLaw.