NEW YORK, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government's automobile safety ratings will get a major update starting with the 2026 model year when regulators add new driver-assistance technologies and tests for protecting pedestrians.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Monday that it has finalized the changes, which were required by Congress under the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law.
In addition to the five-star ratings for crash tests, the agency will add four new technologies including pedestrian automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind spot warning and intervention if a driver tries to move toward a vehicle in a blind spot.
"The new rule also strengthens test procedures and performance standards for technology that's already included in the ratings such as automatic emergency braking," said The Associated Press about the move.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whose department includes NHTSA, said the previous ratings, which went into effect in 1978, have helped the industry rise to higher safety standards. ■