A new crash test dummy that better resembles women gets key government endorsement

AP The U S regime reported major design changes it wants to implement to make the female version of the van crash test dummy more lifelike potentially replacing a model used for decades that is based almost entirely around the body of a man despite higher injury risks for women Department of Transportation executives will consider using the new dummy in the establishment s truck crash test five-star ratings once a final rule is adopted Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy mentioned Thursday night in a news release Women are more likely to be injured in a head-on crash and they are more likely to be killed in a car crash than men The standard crash test dummy used in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration five-star bus testing was developed in and was modeled after a -foot- -centimeter -pound -kilogram man The female dummy is smaller and has a rubber jacket to represent breasts It s routinely tested in the client or back seat but seldom in the driver s seat even though the majority of licensed drivers are women But the change is not guaranteed to happen Specific American automakers have been skeptical and a group representing auto insurers has already commented it thinks the current crash test dummies are fine The new female dummy endorsed by the department more accurately reflects differences between men and women including the shape of the neck collarbone pelvis and legs It s outfitted with more than sensors the department mentioned Maria Weston Kuhn a law learner at New York University started lobbying members of Congress to pass a law requiring the new female dummy after surviving a crash in Ireland in which her seat belt slid off her hips and ruptured her intestines She welcomed Duffy s promotion but explained she won t celebrate until NHTSA incorporates the new model into its testing a step that has been delayed numerous times I fear that with this announcement everybody will throw up their hands and say we ve won Kuhn explained Friday But we are far from navigating the finish line Particular American automakers have been skeptical arguing the new model may exaggerate injury risks and undercut the value of a few safety features such as seat belts and airbags Despite Duffy s announcement the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety a research arm funded by auto insurers continues to advocate for the current line of dummies used to represent women and has seen dramatic improvements in safety as a aftermath spokesperson Joe Young revealed Certainly we are going to continue to monitor the new tools and perhaps do a few additional research Young commented But for now our researchers are content and confident that the dummies we re using are doing a good job Lawmakers and transportation secretaries from the past two presidential administrations have expressed patronage for new crash test rules and safety requirements but developments have been slow U S Sens Deb Fischer a Republican from Nebraska and Tammy Duckworth a Democrat from Illinois both disclosed statements welcoming the female crash test dummy announcement Any progress here is good because there s absolutely no good reason why women are more likely to be injured or die in car crashes Duckworth reported Fischer introduced provision the She Drives Act that would require the majority of advanced testing devices available including a female crash test dummy Duckworth is a co-sponsor It s far past time to make these testing standards permanent which will help save thousands of lives and make America s roads safer for all drivers Fischer mentioned The department disclosed the new specifications will be available for manufacturers to build models and for the automotive industry to begin testing them in vehicles