Federal Register #NHTSA-2026-1651

NHTSA Seeks Public Comment on Removal of Legacy NCAP Tests and Roadmap Updates

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), part of the Department of Transportation, is seeking public comment on proposed changes to its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). - Government Buyer: - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - Department of Transportation - Office of Crashworthiness Standards - Proposal Details: - Removal of two legacy NCAP test procedures: - Dynamic Rollover Resistance Test (Fishhook maneuver) - Side Air Bag Out-of-Position (SAB-OOP) testing - Rationale: - Dynamic Rollover Resistance Test is redundant due to electronic stability control (ESC) requirements - SAB-OOP testing lacks correlation with real-world injury data and reproducibility - Updates to NCAP's 10-year roadmap (2026-2035): - Focus on crashworthiness, crash avoidance, vulnerable road user safety, and vehicle safety ratings - Incorporation of new technologies such as advanced dummies, automatic emergency braking, and driver monitoring systems - No procurement of products or services is requested; the notice is for public feedback - No OEMs or vendors are specified in the notice - Unique Requirements: - Stakeholder and public input is sought regarding the removal of legacy tests and future safety assessment directions - Emphasis on modernizing NCAP to prioritize injury reduction and relevant crash scenarios

Description

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is requesting public comment on a proposal to remove two legacy test procedures from its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): the Dynamic Rollover Resistance Test (Fishhook maneuver) and the Side Air Bag Out-of-Position (SAB-OOP) testing protocols. The agency believes these tests have achieved their original safety goals and proposes updates to the mid- and long-term components of NCAP's 10-year roadmap. These changes aim to modernize NCAP, focus resources on crash scenarios and technologies with the greatest potential for injury reduction, and ensure the program continues to provide impactful safety information to the public.

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