Lawmakers push NCAP overhaul and pedestrian protections after rising roadway deaths
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Summary
Members pressed for an updated New Car Assessment Program and new performance requirements for automatic emergency braking and door‑release systems, citing rising pedestrian and vulnerable-road-user deaths and proposed Magnus White Safe Streets legislation.
Several members used the hearing to press for updates to the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) and to highlight draft bills aimed at protecting pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
Michael Brooks of the Center for Auto Safety emphasized that despite safety improvements, the nation still saw about 40,000 roadway deaths in the prior year and urged NHTSA to test crash‑prevention and pedestrian‑detection systems more aggressively so NCAP can discriminate between technologies rather than simply checking boxes.
Representative Clark introduced the Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone discussion draft, which would require performance and labeling standards for automatic emergency braking systems to detect cyclists and pedestrians across a range of clothing, color and lighting conditions. Brooks and other witnesses said modern sensors and updated NCAP tests could reduce disparities in pedestrian fatality rates.
Lawmakers also questioned automakers and safety groups about electric‑vehicle door latches and trapped occupants; witnesses supported redundancy or backup power for door releases and recommended clear performance standards and labeling for manual release systems for first responders.
Committee members left the hearing with a shared sense that NCAP modernization and targeted statutory standards for AEB and door access are actionable next steps, but differed on timelines and the mechanics of testing and enforcement.