The federal government will soon mandate that car manufacturers use advanced crash test dummies that more accurately represent female bodies in safety testing. This change is crucial because women currently face a significantly higher risk of serious injury or death in car crashes, largely because existing safety systems are primarily tested on male dummies.
Safety advocates argue that designing for the "average male" leaves other demographics more vulnerable. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has introduced the THOR-05F, a new female crash test dummy designed to address this gender disparity.
With the technical specifications finalized, manufacturers are expected to begin producing these dummies for carmakers within the next few years, marking a significant advancement in vehicle safety design and updated regulations. The current standard crash test dummy is based on a 1960s average male.
While a female dummy was introduced in the early 2000s, it represents only a very small-statured woman (5th percentile) and is essentially a scaled-down male dummy. It fails to account for significant biological differences such as muscle strength, fat distribution, bone density, and even physiological factors like menstrual cycles.
The newly developed THOR-05F dummy is engineered to better reflect these biological distinctions. It is equipped with over 150 advanced sensors, making it more durable, accurate, and lifelike than existing models.
This allows it to collect three times more injury data, providing crucial insights into how safety features like seatbelts and airbags perform with female anatomy. The dummy can assess risks to the brain and internal organs, as well as injuries to the abdomen, chest, pelvis, arms, and legs, which current dummies cannot.
This comprehensive data will drive the development of safer vehicle designs and regulations.
