NHTSA to Update 5 Star Rating Process;

The automotive industry covets the 5 star safety rating that the NHTSA provides for vehicles that meet a certain number of its safety regulations and requirements. Ford vehicles like the Ford F-150 have received good safety ratings and are excellent choices for both safety and convenience. Also, your local Volkswagen Dealer has several models that have the latest in safety features.

Ford has several models which have met the NHTSA's 5 star safety requirements and these models can be found at Pittsburgh Ford Dealers. But, the NHTSA is now going to make it more difficult for automakers to achieve the 5 star rating. The new changes in ratings may have been due to recent consumer concern about auto defects that may pose a risk to consumers.

The NHTSA will review several models from the 2011 lineup that are expected to be in the highest demand by consumers with their new rating system. 24 passenger cars, 20 sports utility vehicles, two vans, and 9 pickups from the model year 2011 will be tested under the new system that has tougher requirements and standards. Tougher crash tests will be used and for the first time there will be a single safety score used per vehicle.

There will also be information about the latest safety features that will become standard on many new models such as lane departure warning systems and forward collision warning systems. These systems are among several new safety features that automakers have been adding to their new models. Other safety features include blind spot warning systems and infrared technology that can detect when a driver is not looking at the road.

Of the program, a NHTSA official said, "This new testing program significantly raises the safety bar for all vehicle manufacturers and will provide consumers with a great deal more safety information about the cars and trucks they want to buy.""