Federal safety ratings now cover lane keeping, blind spot, and pedestrian braking, and the first car to pass them all just landed on the list
Tesla’s Model Y has passed America’s new test for driver assistance systems.
It checks for four features including pedestrian automatic emergency braking.
New ratings are designed to encourage adoption and inform consumers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced the 2026 Tesla Model Y has become the first vehicle to pass their new tests for advanced driver assistance systems. They’ve recently been added to the government’s New Car Assessment Program and the results are designed to help car buyers choose a safe vehicle.
The latest tests involve checking the performance of lane keeping assist, blind spot warning, blind spot intervention, and pedestrian automatic emergency braking systems. The results are a simple pass or fail, and can be viewed on the NHTSA’s website.
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Officials are hoping their inclusion will encourage automakers to “prioritize innovations that keep families safe on the roads.” However, they’re a little behind the times as many of these features are already standard equipment.
NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said, “Today’s announcement marks a significant step forward in our efforts to provide consumers with the most comprehensive safety ratings ever.” He added, the “2026 Tesla Model Y demonstrates the lifesaving potential of driver assistance technologies and sets a high bar for the industry. We hope to see many more manufacturers develop vehicles that can meet these requirements.”
The tests have been in the works for years and should help to give buyers a better picture of the safety features of various vehicles. In regard to the 2026 Model Y, vehicles manufactured on or after November 12, 2025 have a five-star safety rating as they aced frontal, side, and rollover crash tests.
The EV also earned a passing grade for every “recommended safety technology,” including the earlier categories of forward collision warning, crash imminent braking (automatic emergency braking), dynamic brake support, and lane departure warning.
