For the first time ever, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed to rate cars based on safety for pedestrians through its New Car Assessment Program, its five-star safety rating program advertised to consumers. Under the current proposal, a vehicle could receive a failing grade for pedestrian crashworthiness, but still earn a five-star safety rating. This is unacceptable and misrepresents a vehicle as safe when it is not.
Why so timid when the situation is so dire: according to the Governors Highway Safety Association Annual pedestrian deaths rose 77% from 2010 to 2021. Pedestrian deaths hit 41-year high in 2022 with more than 7,500 killed. Between 2018 and 2020, the proportion of deaths for pedestrians identified as non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic grew while the proportion identified as non-Hispanic White declined.
Now is the opportunity for NHTSA to take meaningful action and incorporate pedestrian safety ratings into its star safety ratings. You can tell NHTSA it needs to protect pedestrians by submitting your public comment with just one click through America Walks
the current proposal, namely that vehicles that fail a pedestrian safety test still can get a 5-star maximum safety rating. is unacceptable. Let’s do something about it!