It’s no secret that the car you drive can have a big impact on your ability to survive a serious Massachusetts car accident. We’ve all seen the sub-compact cars that look as though they could be totaled in an accident with an alley cat. At the same time, the rollover issue with the Ford Explorer some years ago proved that large is not necessarily safer.
This week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is debuting a new 5-Star Safety Rating System available at www.safecar.gov.
Of good news to motorists is that more expensive also does not necessarily mean safer. The BMW 5 series received a “5.” the highest overall rating, but so did the modestly priced Hyundai Sonata.
Cars are rated from 1 to 5 stars and not all cars have been rated yet under the new system, which also used female test dummies for the first time, and not just dummies simulating men. The new system also provides an Overall Vehicle Score for the first time.
“More stars equal safer cars,” said Secretary LaHood. “With our upgraded Five-Star Safety Ratings System, we’re raising the bar on safety. Through new tests, better crash data, and higher standards, we are making the safety ratings tougher and more meaningful for consumers.”
The new system is tougher than the old and rates cars under three broad areas, frontal crash, side crash and rollover resistance.
“We want consumers to embrace these new safety technologies as a way to make vehicles safer,” said National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland. “We believe electronic stability control, lane departure warning, and forward collision warning offer significant safety benefits and consumers should consider them when buying a new car.”
If you have been injured in a Massachusetts car accident, contact Boston Injury Attorney Jeffrey S. Glassman for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call 877-617-5333.