Understanding JNCAP’s Vehicle Safety Assessments
JNCAP conducts rigorous testing and evaluations to provide the public with transparent and reliable safety information. The program’s primary goals are threefold: to empower car buyers with knowledge about safer vehicle choices, to motivate automakers to develop safer vehicles, and ultimately, to promote the widespread adoption of enhanced safety features in automobiles and child restraint systems.
JNCAP’s evaluations encompass several key aspects of vehicle safety, including:
- Active Safety Performance: Assessing technologies designed to prevent accidents, such as collision avoidance systems and lane departure warnings.
- Passive Safety Performance: Evaluating how well a vehicle protects occupants in the event of a crash, including crashworthiness and airbag effectiveness.
- Automatic Emergency Call Systems: Examining the functionality and reliability of systems that automatically alert emergency services after an accident.
- Child Restraint System (CRS) Performance and Usability: Testing the safety and ease of use of child car seats.
Evolution of JNCAP Safety Standards
JNCAP continuously updates its testing protocols to reflect real-world accident scenarios and advancements in automotive safety technology. Recent years have seen significant enhancements to the assessment program.
Vehicle Safety Performance 2024: The 2024 evaluations introduced critical updates, focusing on:
- Enhanced Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) System Testing: AEB systems are now evaluated in more complex intersection scenarios, including situations where a vehicle turns right across the path of an oncoming vehicle and when turning right or left across pedestrian crossings.
- New Offset Frontal Collision Test: This revised test now includes “Partner Protection,” assessing not only the safety of occupants within the test vehicle (Self Protection – SP) but also the potential damage inflicted on another vehicle in a collision (Partner Protection – PP). High scores require demonstrating robust performance in both SP and PP.
- Expanded Pedestrian Leg Protection Assessment: The pedestrian protection assessment has been broadened to include femur protection, in addition to existing evaluations for knee and tibia injuries.
Vehicle Safety Performance 2023: In 2023, JNCAP introduced evaluations for Acceleration Pedal Misapplication Prevention Systems, specifically focusing on scenarios involving pedestrian accidents.
Vehicle Safety Performance 2022: The 2022 updates incorporated testing of Autonomous Emergency Braking systems’ effectiveness in preventing collisions with cyclists, reflecting the growing number of bicycle-related accidents.
Scoring and Star Ratings
JNCAP employs a star-based rating system to clearly communicate overall vehicle safety performance. The overall rating, ranging from one to five stars (★ to ★★★★★), is determined by the total scores achieved in Preventive Safety Performance, Collision Safety Performance, and the presence of an Automatic Accident Emergency Call System. A higher number of stars indicates superior overall safety.
To achieve the highest rating of ★★★★★, a vehicle must attain the top “A rank” in both Collision Safety Performance and Preventive Safety Performance and be equipped with an Automatic Accident Emergency Call System.
Vehicle Safety Performance Scoring Breakdown:
It is important to note that due to ongoing updates and revisions in testing procedures and scoring methodologies, direct comparisons between scores from different evaluation years may not be accurate.
Preventive Safety Performance (Maximum 85.8 points in 2024, 89 points in 2023, 91 points in 2022, 82 points in 2020-2021):
| Evaluation Results | Total Score for Preventive Safety Performance (2024) | Total Score for Preventive Safety Performance (2023) | Total Score for Preventive Safety Performance (2022) | Total Score for Preventive Safety Performance (2020-2021) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Rank | 69.44 points or more | 72.00 points or more | 73.60 points or more | 66.40 points or more |
| B Rank | 50.20 – 69.43 | 52.12 – 71.99 | 53.32 – 73.59 | 47.92 ~ 66.30 |
| C Rank | 33.20 – 50.19 | 34.48 – 52.11 | 35.28 – 53.31 | 31.68 ~ 47.91 |
| D Rank | 16.52 – 33.19 | 17.16 – 34.47 | 17.56 – 35.27 | 15.76 ~ 31.67 |
| E Rank | Under 16.52 | Under 17.16 | Under 17.56 | Under 15.75 |
Collision Safety Performance (Maximum 100 points consistently across years):
| Evaluation Results | Total Score for Collision Safety Performance |
|---|---|
| A Rank | 84.63 points or more |
| B Rank | 71.89 – 84.62 |
| C Rank | 59.07 – 71.88 |
| D Rank | 46.33 – 59.06 |
| E Rank | Under 46.33 |
Overall Vehicle Safety Performance (Combined score of Preventive and Collision Safety):
| Evaluation Results | Total Score for Vehicle Safety Performance (2024) | Total Score for Vehicle Safety Performance (2023) | Total Score for Vehicle Safety Performance (2022) | Total Score for Vehicle Safety Performance (2020-2021) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★★★★★ | 154.07 points or more | 156.63 points or more | 158.23 points or more | 151.03 points or more |
| ★★★★ | 122.09- 154.06 | 124.01- 156.62 | 125.21 – 158.22 | 119.81 – 151.02 |
| ★★★ | 92.27 – 122.08 | 93.55 – 124.00 | 94.35 – 125.20 | 90.75 – 119.80 |
| ★★ | 62.85 – 92.26 | 63.49 – 93.54 | 63.89 – 94.34 | 62.09 – 90.74 |
| ★ | Under 62.85 | Under 63.49 | Under 63.89 | Under 62.09 |
JNCAP Child Restraint System (CRS) Assessment
JNCAP extends its safety commitment to child passengers through its Child Seat Assessment program. This program evaluates commercially available child restraint systems (CRS) through frontal collision tests and usability assessments, providing safety performance ratings to guide parents and caregivers.
Frontal Collision Evaluation for Child Seats
The frontal collision test assesses the CRS’s ability to protect a child in a frontal impact. Ratings are visually represented by symbols:
- Excellent (4 ◎ marks): Indicates the highest level of protection with no significant flaws detected.
- Good (3 ◎ marks and 1 ○ mark): Represents a high level of protection with minor areas for potential improvement.
- Normal: The product meets basic safety standards but doesn’t achieve the “Excellent” or “Good” ratings.
- Not Recommended (× mark in any test area): Signifies that the CRS did not meet the desired high safety level in one or more test areas. It’s important to note that even “Not Recommended” products still comply with mandatory safety regulations, but JNCAP identifies them as not providing the superior safety levels sought by the program.
Usability Evaluation for Child Seats
Usability is a critical factor in ensuring child seat effectiveness. JNCAP conducts usability evaluations based on a point system, assessing ease of use, installation, and other practical aspects. Evaluations are based on a 5-point scale for each tested usability factor.
History of JNCAP – Key Milestones
JNCAP’s history reflects a continuous commitment to expanding and refining vehicle safety assessments:
- 1995: Inauguration of collision safety performance evaluation (Full frontal collision test) and braking performance tests.
- 1999: Introduction of side collision testing.
- 2000: Start of offset frontal collision tests.
- 2001: Commencement of Child seat performance evaluation (frontal collision and usability).
- 2003: Initiation of pedestrian head protection performance tests.
- 2008: Evaluation of side curtain airbags added.
- 2009: Neck injury protection for rear-end collisions, rear seat passenger protection, rear passenger seat belt usability, and passenger seat belt reminder evaluations began.
- 2011: Pedestrian leg protection performance and electric shock protection after collision tests were introduced.
- 2014: Preventive safety performance evaluation started (autonomous emergency braking [car-to-car] and lane departure warning systems).
- 2015: Rear-view monitoring system performance tests began; braking performance tests concluded.
- 2016: Autonomous emergency braking system [for pedestrians in daytime] testing started.
- 2017: Lane departure warning system evaluation evolved into lane departure prevention system testing; rear passenger seat belt usability evaluations concluded.
- 2018: Autonomous emergency braking [pedestrian at night with lighting], high-performance headlamp equipment, acceleration control in case of pedal misapplication [obstruction], and automatic accident emergency call system performance tests were implemented.
- 2019: Autonomous emergency braking [pedestrian at night without lighting] testing started.
- 2022: Autonomous emergency braking [for bicyclists] testing commenced.
- 2023: Rear-view monitoring system performance tests concluded; acceleration control in case of pedal misapplication [pedestrian] testing began.
- 2024: Autonomous emergency braking [car-to-car] testing concluded; autonomous emergency braking [car turning right to oncoming car and car turning right/left to pedestrian at intersections] testing started; offset frontal collision test evolved into the new offset frontal collision test.
Conclusion
The Japan New Car Assessment Program plays a crucial role in enhancing vehicle safety standards and informing consumer choices in Japan. Through its rigorous testing, transparent rating system, and continuous updates to address emerging safety challenges, JNCAP drives the automotive industry towards safer vehicles and empowers consumers to make informed decisions for themselves and their families. When considering a new vehicle purchase, reviewing JNCAP ratings is a valuable step towards prioritizing safety.
