On Dec. 8, 2015, NHTSA released a Request for Comment (RfC) outlining and requesting comments on its plan to upgrade NCAP for MY2019 and later vehicles. As envisioned, the new MY2019 NCAP will include:
A new approach to determining the overall 5-star rating (2 new rating categories, one for crash avoidance tech and one for pedestrian protection). The crash avoidance rating was incentives the following technologies: FCW, LDW, blind spot detection, lower beam headlighting tech, semi-automatic headlamp beam switching, amber rear turn signal lamps. A new pedestrian protection rating will incentivize rear automatic braking and pedestrian automatic emergency braking while also evaluating a vehicle’s ability to reduce pedestrian impact outcomes (using head and leg impactors).
A new frontal oblique crash test
New dummies (THOR 50M for use in oblique test and full frontal tests and WorldSID-50M for use in side pole and side MDB tests)
Static stability factor (SSF) risk curve update
Comments are due Feb. 16, 2016.
The official Federal Register version of the rule was published on Dec. 16, 2015. For a copy, click here.
Docket reference: NHTSA-2015-0119. NHTSA contacts: Jenny Dang, 202-366-1810, Clarke Harper, 202-366-1810