SaferCar iOS App Provides Real-Time Vehicle Safety Info

Keeping up with vehicle safety information can be tedious, but the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants to help.

The organization today launched a new iOS app, dubbed SaferCar, for iPhone and iPod touch owners, which will display real-time vehicle safety information from the NHTSA's website.

"Safety is our highest priority, and we're always working to find new and better ways for people to access SaferCar," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. "This app takes advantage of the latest technology to ensure that consumers have the real-time information they need to buy safe, drive safe and stay safe."

The new app provides immediate access to information, including five-star safety ratings, recalls and complaints, details about the nearest child seat inspection station, and safety headlines and alerts.

"Timely, accurate, and accessible safety data is the lifeblood of our agency's work," NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said in a statement. "The new SaferCar app literally puts the latest in vehicle safety information directly in the hands of consumers so they can make the appropriate purchasing and other decisions for themselves and their families."

The SaferCar app is currently available for free in the iTunes App Store; according to NHTSA, an Android version is in development. Resources on the SaferCar website have also been updated.

NHTSA today also released its Application Programming Interface (API) to provide developers with more flexible access to data for integration into Web and mobile apps. The agency will provide an online course to teach developers how to use the new APIs.

"Millions of consumers already rely on these data to inform their purchasing decisions on popular automobile review sites," NHTSA said. "Now they'll be able to access these data in real-time."