Car safety ratings are comparable to a report card on your vehicle’s safety performance. It gives you an idea about how well your car will protect you and your co-passengers during an emergency. These could be in the form of a sudden slamming of brakes, a collision, or even a rollover. The ratings are based on rigorous crash tests and safety assessments performed by government agencies and reliable independent global organizations.
Various testing agencies often denote car safety ratings by stars and scales. Major testing agencies include;
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): Their 5-star rating system rates new vehicles for side collisions, frontal collisions, and rollover resistance. The more stars a car gets, the safer it is to drive.
Global New Car Assessment Program (Global NCAP): They rate cars on a 5-star scale, focusing on Child Occupant Protection and Adult Occupant Protection scores.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) ratings: They rate cars based on six crash tests as “Poor,” “Marginal,” “Acceptable,” or “Good”.
A few of the tests performed by these testing agencies are discussed below.
Crash Tests
1. Crash tests involving front and side impact
These tests involve cars competing against each other in a controlled environment. Cars are made to crash into barriers to simulate real-world accidents. Organizations like the IIHS and the NHTSA perform such tests. These tests measure how well a car’s structure and safety features hold up during impact. The test results are then converted to a star rating reflecting the car’s performance in such situations.
2. Small-Overlap Front Test
This test simulates a car hitting a tree or pole head-on. It was introduced in 2012 by the IIHS. It assesses how well the driver’s side is protected during a head-on collision. Once the IIHS tests a car model, the test results are retrospectively applied to earlier versions of the same model.
3. Accident Avoidance
This test gauges how well a car can avoid getting into a crash since for every accident, there are numerous near misses that statistics don’t capture. This is a test of the car’s braking and emergency handling features. Based on the test data, Consumer Reports issues an accident-avoidance rating for the vehicle.
4. Resistance to rolling over
Rolling over during a collision or after skidding off the road is a problem often associated with SUVs and pickups. Such rollover accidents are a major concern for these vehicles. Consequently, NHTSA has conceived a Rollover Resistance Rating that considers a vehicle’s Static Stability Factor through dynamic rollover tests. Static Stability Factor refers to how top-heavy a vehicle is. The test involves severe steering maneuvers to assess if a car will tip over. Vehicles that do get a poor rating for rollover resistance.
5. Roof Strength
A car requires a strong roof to prevent it from being crushed during a rollover. This reduces the risk of injury to the passengers. The IIHS checks roof strength to ensure it won’t flatten during an accident and will offer adequate protection to the passengers.
6. Rear-Impact Protection
Collisions that impact the rear-end of a car may not be fatal, but can cause grievous injuries. To prevent such injuries, good head restraints and well-designed seats are necessary. These car features are evaluated in this IIHS test.
Why car safety ratings matter
1. Peace of mind
Knowing your car did well in its safety tests ensures you experience peace of mind during a drive. You know that your vehicle will keep you safe in the event of a crash.
2. Smart car shopping
The star rating makes shopping for a car simpler and smarter as you can quickly identify the reliability of a vehicle. Investing in a car with a higher safety rating ensures your safety and well-being during a drive.
3. Family First
When traveling with your family, the safety aspect of a car becomes non-negotiable. The star ratings will guide you toward a vehicle that is the most secure.
Car safety ratings are crucial in determining how safe your car is and whether it will offer you adequate protection during a crash. These ratings on a vehicle provide a car owner peace of mind. Car buyers should be informed about these ratings so they can prioritize safety when buying a new vehicle.