The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn't revised their crash test rating system since Tonya Harding's ex-hubby ordered a hit on Nancy Kerrigan's right leg (1994). As a result, "starflation;" some 96 percent of all cars sold in America get a four to five star rating. The NHTSA will roll-out new tests and standards in the fabled year 2010. The International Herald Tribune reports that the agency's looking to unify front and side impact results into a single one to five star rating. This should provide a more apples-to-apples comparison of overall vehicle safety, and bring the U.S. in line with European and Japanese testing standards. The NHTSA will add new front-impact tests and a side-impact pole test (sure to provide the Youtube crowd with hours of hilarity). They'll also begin tormenting smaller female dummies, in hopes of improving safety for smaller passengers, and more closely monitor leg crushage. Finally, los federales will note standard safety equipment such as electronic stability control, lane departure and forward collision warning systems in safety rating summaries. Welcome changes all.
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What kind of car was that in the pic?
How much different are the Euro crash standards then the ones in North America? Will I be getting my Fiat Panda anytime soon?
The car was a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. <— Link to article about crash
Still no off-the-cliff test? No 747-lands-on-top-of-car-on-freeway test? What about the dukes-of-hazzard-creek-jump test?
Where does it end? I guess I could see if speed limits were being raised, increasing the stresses a vehicle faced in a crash. It seems like this will mostly lead to heavier vehicles for very minimal safety increases. Maybe I’m over reacting, rereading the list none of those sound too out there.
Thanks Comedian
Does anyone know how many cars are crashed per model? I’ve always been curious of this. If only one or two per model are crashed in the same method, isn’t it possible for the rating to be horrible invalid considering all the tiny variables that can affect the outcome of a crash? i.e. a centimeter to the right or left and the crumple-zone would have not been as effective?
Anyone know the answer to this?
I’d like to see them ramp the speeds up by around 15 MPH. 35 MPH collisions are a poor proxy for those of who spend our time on the highway.
How about a real Scandinavian type Moose test, to see if those A-pillars are more than just decoration?
When every car gets 4-5 stars, the test is worthless as a guide. Grade ’em on a curve.
Six teens in the car and none killed. Two tried to run from the scene. Wow.
Re: Photo…
Wow… some light pole!
I’d like to know which cars make up that last 4 percent!
I’ve done crash tests a number of times.
The small sampling done for official government ratings is a real concern.
When GM had a car that got miserable results, the government let them have another try. That car, supposedly identical the the first one, passed handily.
Bob
It would be nice if every possible combination of engine, transmission and driven wheels didn’t need a separate vehicle tested. It really puts imports, especially Europeans at a disadvantage.
For example, a 328i sedan, 328i coupe, 328Xi sedan and 328Xi coupe each need a separate vehicle crash tested, one each for automatic and manual transmissions. Essentially, BMW must crash eight separate cars to sell “328s” in the US. Will their crash test results really be that different? Besides, if they pass testing for Autobahn driving (regularly at 80-120 mph), will they really have trouble passing testing for the US where the speed limit is ca. 65 mph?