+ v4 B+ n0 u: z" A. G* xHow does NHTSA perform the frontal crash rating and how are vehicles rated? ; L: I$ n3 E: J9 O( A! s ! ^/ d2 z0 N4 ~. _' z4 TFor frontal crash ratings, crash-rating dummies representing an average-sized adult are placed in driver and front passenger seats and secured with the vehicle's seat belts. Vehicles are crashed into a fixed barrier at 35 miles per hour (mph), which is equivalent to a head-on collision between two similar vehicles each moving at 35 mph. Since the rating reflects a crash between two similar vehicles, make sure you compare vehicles from the same weight class, plus or minus 250 lbs., when looking at frontal crash star ratings.