DETROIT — Significant revisions to the U.S. government’s automotive safety ratings are set to commence with the 2026 model year, incorporating new driver-assistance technologies and pedestrian protection tests.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced these finalized changes, which were mandated by Congress as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law enacted in 2021.

Alongside the existing five-star crash test ratings, the agency will introduce four new technologies: pedestrian automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind spot warning, and intervention systems designed to alert drivers as they approach vehicles in adjacent blind spots.
Furthermore, the updated regulations will enhance the testing procedures and performance criteria for previously established technologies, including automatic emergency braking.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who oversees NHTSA, acknowledged that the previous ratings system, in place since 1978, has significantly contributed to the rise of safety standards across the automotive industry.
In an interview, Buttigieg emphasized that the new requirements ensure evaluations will consider not only the safety of occupants during a crash but also how vehicle design can prevent accidents or reduce the severity of injuries to pedestrians.

Under the upcoming system, while the known five-star crash test ratings will remain unchanged, consumers will benefit from additional visual indicators—green check marks—if the vehicles they are considering come equipped with the new safety features.
Consumers will have peace of mind knowing these features are compliant with government-established standards, according to Buttigieg.

In the initial phase, automakers will receive a simple pass or fail rating for these new features; later on, detailed scores will be introduced to facilitate vehicle comparisons for potential buyers.
The new safety standards are scheduled to be reflected on vehicle window stickers starting this August, incentivizing automakers to accelerate the incorporation of these features into their models.
Buttigieg anticipates that automakers will continue to leverage crash test ratings as a competitive advantage, a trend he hopes will extend to the new safety technologies.

For manufacturers to receive credit for these advanced features, they must integrate them as standard equipment in their vehicles.
Buttigieg expressed a desire for this initiative to positively influence the market by encouraging consumers to seek out vehicles equipped with these critical safety enhancements.
The new regulations will not only expand the scope of current safety tests but will also enforce more rigorous standards for existing features—most notably, automatic emergency braking—which is expected to become a standard offering on all passenger vehicles by 2029.