NHTSA to Include Pedestrian Safety in 5-Star Ratings Starting 2027

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has confirmed that pedestrian protection will become part of its 5-Star Safety Ratings programme beginning with the 2027 model year. The change means US new-vehicle homologation will now carry an additional design consideration that automakers must address head-on.

Until now, the rating system has largely focused on occupant protection in crashes. Adding pedestrian safety shifts part of the evaluation outside the cabin, forcing manufacturers to rethink front-end geometry, hood design and other exterior elements that affect how a vehicle interacts with a person on foot.

For carmakers, this represents a new dimension in the certification process rather than a simple tweak. Engineering teams will need to balance pedestrian-friendly design with styling, aerodynamics and other regulatory requirements already baked into their US market vehicles.

With the 2027 timeframe now set, the industry has a defined window to adapt. How quickly manufacturers respond — and how the ratings influence buyer behavior — will determine the real-world impact of the update.