The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has introduced a new dimension to vehicle safety ratings by implementing pedestrian protection criteria as part of its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) for 2027-model-year vehicles. This new category aims to assess vehicles’ designs and performance in terms of pedestrian safety, evaluating injury risks across four body regions: head, hips, legs, and knees, in various impact scenarios.
In the inaugural round, 102 models from 10 manufacturers met the new criteria. The assessment includes headform impact tests, which evaluate both child and adult positions, as well as upper and lower limb impacts. This initiative is intended to help consumers make informed vehicle choices.
For continued safety evaluations, the NCAP will still cover traditional crashworthiness ratings and crash avoidance technologies, including automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. Consumers can find detailed safety ratings for specific vehicles on the NHTSA website.
For more information, refer to the NHTSA press release.
