04:19 27-11-2025

Euro NCAP revamps its 2026 rating with four safety pillars

Euro NCAP has unveiled the biggest overhaul of its rating system since 2009. Taking effect in 2026, the new framework is built around four pillars: safe driving, crash avoidance, crash protection, and post-crash safety. The organization is revising its methodologies, scoring, and test scenarios to better match contemporary traffic conditions and the growing complexity of vehicle systems—a pragmatic reset to keep pace with that complexity.

Driver monitoring will take center stage. The assessment will factor in continuous tracking of eye gaze and head position, how systems respond to fatigue and possible intoxication, the presence of physical buttons for frequently used functions, and the accuracy of seat-belt detection. In on-road checks, Euro NCAP will also evaluate whether speed limits are recognized correctly. Focusing on fundamentals such as eyes-on-road and straightforward access to core controls brings the tests closer to everyday use.

Within crash avoidance, testing for AEB, steering assistance, and lane-keeping will become markedly stricter. New scenarios will involve pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Systems capable of intervening in cases of unintended pedal application will earn additional points, as will solutions that prevent 'dooring'.

For crash tests, the range of reference body types will broaden to include different sizes and age groups. Pedestrian protection will be revisited as well, with particular attention to the windscreen area.

After a crash, requirements will tighten for electric vehicles: power-operated door handles must function after an impact, and the traction battery must isolate properly. Emergency-call systems must accurately determine the number of occupants even when seat belts are unfastened, and EVs are required to warn about the risk of a battery fire following a collision. These are clear, practical steps that speak directly to rescue access and occupant safety.