Higher Safety Through Clearer Consumer Information
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Proposed 10 Star Safety Ratings System
By David DeVeau

Crash / Collision Testing Conditions:

Protection Systems: Vehicle Areas Defined Collide At Speed Specified
Avoidance Technology: Vehicle Demonstrates Full Function At Speed Specified
Safety Features: Vehicle Has These Innovations Approved At Speed Specified

Collision Measurement Conditions:

Humanoid Crash Dummy:
225 Pound Male Adult
160 Pound Female Adult
80 Pound Adolescent Child
(See Vehicle Model & Year For Additional Details)

Survival Ratings:
PASS - External Bruising & Abrasions
PASS - Internal Joint Sprains
PASS - Internal Organ Bruising
FAIL - External Or Internal Damage

Humanoid Crash Dummies Are Used For Crash Protection Ratings Only. Collision Avoidance Technologies Are Test Driven By Human Technicians. All Tests Are Performed Under Laboratory Conditions. All Automobiles & Light Utility Vehicle Sizes & Weight Classes Are Tested Under The Same Conditions And Comparisons Are Applicable.

Assist Systems: need to only see and/or sense what is around them within a minimum measurement of distance.

Automatic Systems: must see equal to or better than human ability to anticipate and/or calculate course and actions.

NHTSA Crash Protection Levels:

L0) Occupant Safety Systems:
Structural Absorption and or Diversion for Compartment Integrity
Personal Restraints and or Movement Absorption for All Seat Locations

L0-P) Pedestrian Safety Systems:
Structural Absorption and or Diversion
Pedestrian and or Pedestrian Operated Vehicles

NHTSA Collision Avoidance Levels:

L1) Warning Systems:
Audio and or Visual and or Tactile Vibration Alerts
Automated and or Selected Safety Features

L1-P) Pedestrian Warning Systems:
External Audio and or Visual Alerts
Pedestrian and or Pedestrian Operated Vehicles

L2) Assist Systems:
Tactile Resistance and or Initial Intervention
Directional and or Speed Counter Measures

L3) Automatic Systems:
Complete Intervention and or Activation
Directional and or Speed Control

L4) Autonomous Systems:
Directional and or Speed Control
No Human Driver Interface and or Intervention


This 10 Star Crash and Collision Safety Ratings System is so simple that even if we are undecided between a Pickup Truck or an SUV or a Sedan or even a Commuter Coupe, we can compare how fast they can go and still perform as designed to avoid a collision and when required to protect us so we can survive a crash. We can also easily see that when we are interested in letting the vehicle drive us around that it will be tested and pass at the speeds we drive. That whatever the decisions are for our next vehicle, safety is clear.


10 Star Speed Safety Rating System Sticker Examples


David's MAIN INDEX