NHTSA Eyes Pedestrian Braking Scores for New Cars
Published Date: 5/28/2026
Notice
Summary
The government wants to update the New Car Assessment Program to include rear automatic braking systems that help avoid hitting pedestrians when backing up. This change will help car buyers know which vehicles have this smart safety feature. If you have thoughts, you can share them by July 27, 2026—no cost involved, just your opinion!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Vehicles Labeled If RAB Passes
NHTSA proposes to identify vehicles that meet its rear automatic braking (RAB) pedestrian-avoidance performance criteria with a check mark on the NCAP website. Until a crash avoidance rating is created, the check mark will be the primary way consumers learn which vehicles passed NHTSA's RAB tests.
Specific Test Matrix to Earn RAB Credit
To receive RAB credit, NHTSA proposes that vehicles must pass all 20 test conditions: two test scenarios (stationary and moving pedestrian), reversing at 4 km/h (2.5 mph) and 8 km/h (5 mph), using an adult 4activePA mannequin and a 4activePS two-year-old mannequin, with one trial per condition. NHTSA would list vehicles that meet these criteria with a check mark on its website.
Targets Backover Crash Safety For Children, Seniors
NHTSA says about 111,000 backing crashes occurred annually (2017–2022), causing an average of 69 fatalities per year (36 involving pedestrians) and many injuries, with a disproportionate share of small child victims and older adults. Including pedestrian-avoiding RAB in NCAP is intended to encourage systems that could reduce these backover fatalities and injuries.
Minimum RAB Performance Requirements
NHTSA proposes four performance criteria for RAB systems: (1) the vehicle must not contact the test mannequin, (2) an auditory warning must occur before brake application, (3) the RAB system must default to "ON" after each ignition/key cycle, and (4) brakes must remain applied after stopping unless the mannequin is no longer in the path or the driver deliberately overrides.
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