Most think of the Chevrolet Camaro as a car that's only concerned with horsepower and torque, which hasn't done much for their safety reputation. In fact, the Camaro and similar vehicles are often called "death traps" by those wary of their safety credentials.
However, the new Camaro surprised many by becoming the first vehicle to earn five stars in all of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) revised crash tests, reports Autoblog. The NHTSA instituted more stringent tests this year after it decided that many models were being awarded five stars too easily. The result has been a much tougher test that has seen some cars re-rated down to three or even two stars.
Some models, like the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata, managed to get five stars - but they still had a star knocked off in at least one of the tests. Yet the Camaro earned a truly perfect rating - five stars in front, side and rollover crashes for both driver and passenger.
Safety ratings usually refer to a car in like-new condition. In reality, drivers must pay close attention to auto maintenance to ensure that their car is as safe as possible. Things like brake service and putting on new tires can help ensure that accidents due to mechanical failings are avoided.