The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a final rule to create an overall vehicle rating based on the combined frontal, side and rollover crash ratings. The intent is to provide consumers with a more meaningful evaluation of safety ratings and to provide an incentive to vehicle manufacturers to improve ratings, if necessary. The NHTSA’s 5-star rating system reflects performance in crash tests for a variety of different-size crash dummies. The ratings information is included on the new-car window sticker with other consumer information, such as suggested price, equipment and fuel-economy information. 

For details, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.