Vehicle stickers get crash ratings

The ubiquitous window sticker found on the 17 million new cars and trucks sold annually in the United States is getting its first redesign in 21 years.

The stickers on all new vehicles will be required to display crash-test safety ratings by Sept. 1, 2007, under a new rule finalized Thursday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The initiative is dubbed "Stars on Cars" because the stickers will include the number of stars a vehicle earns in front and side crash tests, and its rollover rating. A five-star rating is the highest mark in each category.

NHTSA administrator Nicole Nason said the additional safety information will help drivers make better choices.

Consumers will see the stickers "and demand the safest car possible," she said.

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mstangpny07 - 9/8/2006 4:55:17 PM

+2 Boost

The NHTSA's rating system is SO OUTDATED! First of all, it's a lot easier then the IIHS's tests because the frontal is full on, meaning the car absorbs more then off-set, which is more demanding. And for side impact, they use a car-sized sled, instead of the IIHS's SUV sized one, and the NHTSA dosen't use the head scores for the final side-impact score. The reason many cars w/o side airbags fail the IIHS's test is b/c the dummys head hits the barrier and the dummy "dies". For the same car, the NHTSA gives 5 stars even though it deserves two!!!! They need to change their test procedures!!! For the 5 year old F-150, IIHS gave "Poor" NHTSA? FOUR STARS!!!!!
To see NHSTA ratings go to www.safercar.gov.
To see IIHS ratings go to iihs.org
To see the F-150's page go to http://safercar.gov/NCAP/Cars/988.html
(Look how low the side-impact barrier is on the link above)
(FYI, the 2004-current F-150 did great on all the crash testings)