NHTSA To Limit 5 Star Crash Ratings To Only Vehicles With Automatic Braking

Hmmm, that would be sort of like favoring hybrids just because they're hybrids, regardless of their actual fuel economy. Some other car gets better economy? It's not as good because it's not a hybrid.

If you have a crash test rating, rate the vehicle on how well it performs in a crash. If you want to create a separate category for "accident avoidance" capabilities, design tests specifically to measure that, and rate a car on those dynamics separately. Either that, or let consumers know that a 4-star crash rating without auto-brakes is identical to a 5-star rating with auto-brakes, with the only difference is the additional star for the auto-brakes, which you *believe* are really valuable, but whose real-world value you haven't actually assessed.

More Socialist Gestapo idiocy.

Another worthless comment courtesy of Darringer's drug induced narcissistic personality disorder.

While the wording is suspect - I can agree with the outcome - all this is - is a way of forcing the manufacturers to offer automatic braking at least in one version of most every car as an option - if not all of them. Of course - the manufacturer will include this option in the car it provides for testing. Another new "feature"that will just drive up the price of cars and make them less affordable for the average family - who already cannot purchase most new cars. Forcing them to buy less safe older vehicles.

However - eventually the cost of this option will make it feasible for all cars to have it based on volume. Example - few cars mention anti-lock brakes - although most cars now come with them.

I can understand giving the 5+ designation for great crash test ratings with the radar/camera systems but not all cars will have that system available OR being optioned with it so there needs to be 5 stars for cars without the upgrade safety options