A female THOR-5F crash test dummy is shown in the driver's seat at Humanetics in Farmington Hills, Michigan, June 10, 2025.
Paul Sancia/AP
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Paul Sancia/AP
The US government on Thursday unveiled a new crash test dummy design that advocates say will help make cars safer for women.
The Department of Transportation will consider using the dummy in government crash tests of vehicles with a five-star rating once the final rules are adopted, the agency said in a news release.
Women are 73% more likely to be injured in head-on crashes and 17% more likely to die in car crashes than men.
The standard crash test dummy used in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's five-star vehicle testing was developed in 1978 and modeled after a 5-foot-9-inch (175 cm) tall, 171-pound (78 kg) person. The female mannequin is smaller in size and has a rubber shell to represent breasts. It is usually tested in the passenger or back seat, but rarely in the driver's seat, although most licensed drivers are women.
The agency's new female mannequin more accurately reflects differences between men and women, including the shape of the neck, collarbone, pelvis and legs. According to the department, it is equipped with more than 150 sensors.
Some U.S. automakers were skeptical, arguing that the new model could exaggerate injury risks and reduce the value of some safety features such as seat belts and airbags.
Lawmakers and transportation secretaries from the last two presidential administrations have expressed support for new crash test rules and safety requirements, but progress has been slow.
U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer, a Republican from Nebraska, and Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, released statements welcoming the announcement of the female crash test dummy.
“Any progress here is good because there is simply no good reason why women are more likely to be injured or killed in car crashes,” Duckworth said.
Fisher introduced the She Drives Act, which would require the use of state-of-the-art testing devices, including a female crash test dummy. Duckworth is a co-author.
“It is long past time to make these testing standards permanent, which will help save thousands of lives and make America's roads safer for all drivers,” Fisher said.
The department said the new specifications will be made available to manufacturers to create models, as well as to the automotive industry to begin testing them on vehicles.
