Are crash safety ratings compared to similar cars or in general?

I'm lookin at buyin a sebring convertible but my dad is all worried about it bein dangerous. I looked at the safety ratings, they're good and I told him. He says those ratings are compared to other convertibles, not all cars in general. Does anyone know if that's true?Are crash safety ratings compared to similar cars or in general?
Each year, NHTSA crash tests selected vehicles at 35 mph by running them into a frontal barrier.



NHTSA then issues star ratings for all models tested.



The federal agency provides separate frontal crash-test ratings for the driver and front passenger.



Side-impact tests are also conducted, and separate scores are given for the front and rear occupants.



All vehicles sold in the United States are required to pass a 30-mph frontal crash test, but only some models are tested at the higher speed.Are crash safety ratings compared to similar cars or in general?
We are being sold a bill of gunk every day by the manufacturers referring to their vehicles as "safe."..The only time a vehicle might be considered 'safe' is when the engine is turned off and nobody is inside the vehicle.



Seat belts, airbags, crumple zones and all the rest of the so-called 'safety' features on any vehicle are protection devices designed to minimize injury and reduce the possibility of death - under very certain conditions...Like laboratory conditions at speeds under 40 mph between a moving mock-up (vehicle) and a non-moving object (simulated opposing vehicle)...None of these items will keep you from being involved in a collision nor will they prevent damage to your vehicle under these circumstances.



All motor vehicles designed for public roads are DANGEROUS...They will kill, maim, injure and ruin your life if each of us does not operate them correctly each and every time out of the box...The 'safe' part of every vehicle is you and me - the drivers...If I'm not thinking safety, then my vehicle is not being operated safely.



This is a 'hot button' topic for me...Over 30,000 dead a year just with passenger vehicles and over 2 million injuries.

And virtually nothing is being done about it!!!Are crash safety ratings compared to similar cars or in general?
I want to say he is right you always hear the best safety rating in its class. But what about another car in another class so i believe they are compared to the cars in their class also know as competition so i think dad may be right here. Hope this helps