09/04/2026
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has settled into a pattern of delaying new crash tests, rules and other safety requirements, according to an Automotive News review, leaving the industry and consumers without clear guidance at a time of unprecedented technological change and innovation.
Last month, NHTSA proposed delays for at least 18 tests for vehicle safety features that feed into the New Car Assessment Program, a ratings system for consumers. For some upgrades, it has now published four successive delayed timelines.
Critics say NHTSA’s failure to keep up with the auto industry is stifling innovation as advanced driver-assistance features, automated driving and alternative powertrains become more popular. They also say the agency’s sluggishness is contributing to preventable deaths on the nation’s roadways, even as 2025’s traffic fatality rate makes up the second-lowest in recorded history.
Last year, 36,640 Americans died on U.S. roads, according to NHTSA.
Read more: https://www.autonews.com/regulation-safety/an-nhtsa-delays-test-changes-0904/
