The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is requesting the public’s help in identifying ways to improve the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), which evaluates the safety of new vehicles.

The purpose of NCAP is to assist vehicle buyers in the selection process and to encourage auto manufacturers to make safety improvements. NHTSA has periodically updated the program, most recently in model-year 2011.

“In response to the rapid development of vehicle safety technologies, especially in the area of crash avoidance, the agency is once again requesting public comments in order to help identify the potential areas for improvement to the program that have the greatest potential for producing safety benefits,” NHTSA said.

The agency will use the comments it receives to propose near-term NCAP upgrades and to develop a preliminary five-year plan for the program.

For more information, click here.