The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that it will be delaying more stringent crash test ratings by a full model year. The new system – which combines front, side and rollover crash results – was slated to kick in for the 2010 model year, but has been pushed back until the 2011 model year.
Although government officials never made the connection between the financial troubles in Detroit and the delay of the new rating system, the two are undoubtedly intertwined. Improving vehicle safety doesn’t exactly come cheap, and the Big Three need to focus on turning around their North American operations.
The new rating system will be the first change in the NHTSA’s crash rating program since 1979. Many argue the current rating system is too easy, allowing for 98 percent of all vehicles tested to achieve four of five star ratings – the administrations two highest ratings. Under the new rating system, it will be much more difficult to achieve top marks.
In addition to stricter testing standard, the new program will also include the use of smaller crash test dummies, which will better simulate small adults and bigger children, according to Bloomberg. The NHTSA’s plan for the new rating system was announced last July.
