[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79206-79207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30701]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

 [Docket No. NHTSA-2006-26555]


Consumer Information; New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of postponement of the implementation of enhancements to 
the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

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SUMMARY: On July 11, 2008, NHTSA published in the Federal Register (73 
FR 40016) a notice announcing changes to the agency's New Car 
Assessment Program (NCAP) and stated that these changes would be 
implemented beginning with model year 2010 vehicles tested as part of 
the NCAP. This notice announces that implementation of the changes 
discussed in the July 2008 notice is postponed for one model year. The 
agency will begin applying the new NCAP testing and safety rating 
criteria to model year 2011 vehicles, not model year 2010 vehicles as 
indicated in the July 2008 notice. The agency will continue to utilize 
the existing NCAP testing and safety rating criteria for the 2010 model 
year.

DATES: The new NCAP testing and safety rating criteria described in the 
July 11, 2008 notice will be used for vehicles tested as part of the 
NCAP beginning with model year 2011 vehicles.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For non-legal issues, you may contact 
Ms. Jennifer N. Dang, Office of Crashworthiness Standards (Telephone: 
202-493-0598). For legal issues, you may contact Mr. Ed Glancy, Office 
of the Chief Counsel (Telephone: 202-366-2992). You may send mail to 
both of these officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Washington, 
DC 20590-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
established the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) in 1978 in response 
to Title II of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act of 
1972. Beginning with the 1979 model year, NCAP began rating passenger 
vehicles for frontal impact safety. Ratings for side impact safety were 
added beginning with the 1997 model year and for rollover resistance 
beginning with the 2001 model year. None of the testing or safety 
rating criteria for frontal crash, side crash, and rollover resistance 
have been substantially revised since they were first established. On 
January 25, 2007, NHTSA published a notice announcing a public hearing 
and requesting comments on an agency report titled, ``The New Car 
Assessment Program (NCAP) Suggested Approaches for Future 
Enhancements.'' Following the receipt of written comments and testimony 
at a March 7, 2007 public hearing, on July 11, 2008 NHTSA published in 
the Federal Register (73 FR 40016) a notice announcing its final 
decision as to the specific changes the agency is making in the NCAP 
testing and safety rating criteria, and stating that these changes 
would be implemented beginning with model year 2010 vehicles tested as 
part of NCAP.

II. Rationale for Postponing NCAP Enhancements for One Model Year

    NHTSA has decided to postpone implementation of the Department's 
new 5-star Government safety rating program for one year to begin with 
Model Year 2011. This delay will give manufacturers another year to 
prepare for what are the most significant changes since the rating 
program began in 1979 and provide consumers with an additional year to 
become familiar with the new rating system.
    The agency will, at a later date, issue a notice of proposed 
rulemaking concerning changes to the vehicle safety rating portion of 
the Monroney label that will need to be made to reflect the changes to 
the NCAP announced on July 11, 2008.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 32302, 30111, 30115, 30117, 30166, and 
30168, and Pub. L. 106-414, 114 Stat. 1800; delegation of authority 
at 49 CFR 1.50.


[[Page 79207]]


    Issued on: December 19, 2008.
David Kelly,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-30701 Filed 12-19-08; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P