SaferCar app launched to help US consumers make informed buying decisions

"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," David Strickland, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), said in a statement.

The NHTSA, a division of the US Department of Transportation (DOT), modelled the new app on its popular auto safety website, SaferCar.gov.

The app will give users up-to-date road safety announcements and alerts and let them see vehicle crash test ratings, receive safety and recall information, file complaints and find assistance installing car seats for children.

Third-party developers will also have access to the application's data, which will allow them to integrate the information into existing apps and websites.

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

At present, the app is only available for Apple customers through the iTunes Store. The NHTSA said it is currently developing a version of the app for Android devices as well.