New U.S. vehicle safety ratings will indicate how well driver-assistance tech and pedestrian detection mechanisms.
Starting in 2026, U.S. vehicle safety ratings will include information on driver-assistance technologies and pedestrian protection mechanisms, reports Tom Krisher for the Associated Press.
The safety ratings currently in place, which were introduced in 1978, are based on crash tests that measure the effects of crashes on passengers inside the car. Now, ratings will also include “pedestrian automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind spot warning, and intervention if a driver tries to move toward a vehicle in a blind spot.”
The added features will receive a pass or fail grade before the system is expanded to more nuanced ratings. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says the hope is that carmakers will use these ratings to compete for customers in the same way they do with crash test ratings.
The new rules also tighten regulations around existing safety features such as automatic emergency braking and set design standards for pedestrian safety.
FULL STORY: US to add features such as blind spot warnings and pedestrian detection to vehicle crash ratings
Fiery Tesla Crash Highlights Need for Mechanical Door Handles
The shift to electronic controls can have deadly consequences for drivers and passengers.
NHTSA Could Expand Safety Requirements to Include Pedestrians
In a radical shift from prior policy that singled out passenger safety, new cars could be required to include more features that protect people outside the vehicle.
National Roadway Safety Program Centers Vision Zero at the Federal Level
A new federal program will direct resources to reducing traffic deaths, improving roadway safety, and encouraging a shift to sustainable transportation modes.
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Research Shows More Roads = More Driving
A national study shows, once again, that increasing road supply induces additional vehicle travel, particularly over the long run.
How Protecting Kauaʻi’s Forests Safeguards Fresh Water
A University of Hawaiʻi study shows that protecting Kauaʻi’s native forests from invasive species significantly boosts groundwater recharge, making it a cost-effective strategy to secure fresh water and enhance climate resilience.
Gary, Indiana to Expand Transit Service, Bike Share
The city plans to launch a bike share system in April and expand service on its bus routes.
Pittsburgh Rolls Out Electric School Buses
Pittsburgh Public Schools has launched its first electric school buses, with plans to fully electrify its fleet over the next 14 months, aiming to create a cleaner, more sustainable transportation system supported by new charging infrastructure.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport