The U S New Car Assessment Program NCAP

The U. S. New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

History of NCAP • Consumer information Consumer demand Manufacturers voluntarily improve safety • Frontal impact program (1979 MY) § Implemented star ratings (1994 MY) • Side impact program (1997 MY) • Rollover resistance (2001 MY) § Added a dynamic test (2004 MY) • Monroney label (2007) • Announced program enhancements (2008) § Government 5 -Star safety ratings program 2

Early NCAP Program (MY 1979 -2010) • Frontal impact program § Used 50 th percentile male driver & passenger dummies § Head and chest criteria • Side impact program § 50 th percentile side impact dummies in driver seat & rear passenger seat (behind the driver) § Thoracic criteria only 3

Early NCAP (MY 1979 -2010) – Cont. • Rollover Resistance § Static test § Dynamic test 4

NCAP Enhancements • In July 2008, NHTSA published a notice announcing major changes to NCAP • In October 2010, NHTSA implemented the enhanced program beginning with MY 2011 § Frontal Program Changes § Side Program Changes § Ratings for new female dummies § Overall Vehicle Score § Recommended Advanced Technology 5

NCAP Enhancements (Cont. ) • Frontal Impact § Male dummy in the driver seat § Female dummy in right front seat § New injury criteria 6

NCAP Enhancements (Cont. ) • Side Impact § Male dummy in the driver seat of the moving deformable barrier test § Female dummy in rear seat of moving deformable barrier test § New injury criteria 7

NCAP Enhancements (Cont. ) • Side Impact (Cont. ) § Female driver dummy in new pole test § New injury criteria 8

NCAP Enhancements (Cont. ) • Overall Vehicle Score § Frontal rating § Combination side rating o Side pole test o Side moving deformable barrier test § Rollover resistance rating • Recommended Advanced Technology § Electronic Stability Control § Forward Collision Warning § Lane Departure Warning 9

Program Outreach Efforts – Beyond the Traditional Media 10

Traditional Methods of Communication • In the past, NHTSA relied on the following methods to raise awareness of the 5 -Star Safety Ratings program among target audiences: – Auto show exhibits, Monroney label, Buying a Safercar brochure, www. safercar. gov website 11

Consumer Response • Source of information 12

Outreach to Online Partners • Partners with consumer-centric automotive websites that have substantial reach § Share consumer-friendly fact sheets o New ratings program o New vehicle safety rating label (Monroney label) o Advanced technologies program 13

Child Safety Consumer Programs • Ease of Use ratings program § A program that rates how easy certain child seat features are to use • Development and publication of a new child safety brochure § Modernize the brochure to meet today’s consumer needs through mobile communications 14

Thank you 15