New Crash Test Ratings Available

The New Car Assessment Program also has added a summary rating to make it easier for consumers to assess safety at a glance.

All these aspects are now available on the Safercar.gov website.

An overhaul was necessary because manufacturers are building safer cars that perform better in the federal tests. The tests need to keep up with the manufacturers' state-of-the-art technology.

The new safety ratings will not immediately appear on the window stickers of 2011 cars. Bureacratic red tape is the reason. For now, check out the five-star ratings online at Safercar.gov.