Euro NCAP: New 2026 protocols target distraction, impairment, and speeding
The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) has unveiled its most significant protocol overhaul in over a decade. Starting in 2026, the voluntary safety rating will shift to a new methodology based on four factors: Safe Driving, Crash Avoidance, Crash Protection, and Post-Crash Safety.
Real-world testing for Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA)
While ISA has been mandatory for new vehicle types since 2022, Euro NCAP is significantly raising the bar. For the first time, independent verification of speed-limit information accuracy will move beyond the test track into real-world on-road driving.
ETSC welcomes this shift, as the effectiveness of ISA depends entirely on the reliability of map data and camera recognition. Ensuring these systems work in the “real world” is essential for driver acceptance and life-saving speed management.
Tackling driver impairment and unresponsiveness
The 2026 protocols introduce dedicated scoring for systems capable of identifying signs of drug or alcohol impairment.
Euro NCAP will place emphasis on Driver State Monitoring (DSM). To achieve a 5-star rating, vehicles must employ continuous eye- and head-tracking. Crucially, the tests will now reward “unresponsive driver” interventions – technologies that can detect a medical emergency or extreme intoxication and safely bring the vehicle to a controlled halt.
The return of the physical button
Euro NCAP is pushing back against the “touchscreen-only” interior design trend. To secure a top safety rating, manufacturers must provide dedicated physical controls for core functions, including:
- Indicators and hazard lights
- Windscreen wipers
- The horn
- SOS/eCall functions
While ETSC applauds Euro NCAP for leading the way, we maintain that voluntary ratings are not a substitute for legislation. The 2026 protocols prove that life-saving technology upgrades are ready for the mass market. The European Commission must now look to these updated standards as a blueprint for the next revision of the General Safety Regulation (GSR).