WASHINGTON (Oct. 5, 2010)—The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has unveiled an upgraded Five-Star Safety Ratings System for new vehicles and released the safety ratings for the first model year 2011 vehicles tested under the program.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said new tests, better crash data and higher standards will make the safety ratings tougher and more meaningful for consumers.
The new ratings evaluate the safety of passenger cars, SUVs and pickup trucks in the areas of frontal crash, side crash and rollover resistance, NHTSA said.
Because so many vehicles reached the highest rating under the old criteria, and because the new standards are so much more rigorous, not all vehicles previously receiving five-star safety ratings have kept them, the agency said.