She DRIVES Act: New Bill Mandates Female Crash Test Dummies, Boosting Vehicle Safety for Women

The She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety Act (She DRIVES Act) is all about making cars safer, especially for women. It's a direct response to a long-standing issue: most crash tests primarily use male-sized dummies. This bill changes that, requiring automakers to use female crash test dummies and update how they measure injuries, potentially leading to big safety improvements for everyone on the road.

Driving Towards Equal Safety

This bill tackles the safety gap head-on. Here’s the breakdown:

• Frontal Impact Tests: Within 15 days of the bill becoming law, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has to update its rules to include both male and 5th percentile adult female THOR crash test dummies for frontal impact testing. That's the smaller female dummy. They also need to set injury criteria based on real-world injuries (head, neck, chest, etc.) for both. (SEC. 3(a)). The DOT gets 60 days to propose a rule to require using the 5th percentile female dummy, and 120 days for a final rule. (SEC. 3(a)).
  • Real-World Impact: Imagine a mom driving her kids to school. Right now, the car's safety rating is largely based on how a male body would react in a crash. This bill means that future car designs will need to consider how a smaller female body would fare, potentially leading to changes in seatbelt design, airbag deployment, and overall vehicle structure.
• Side Impact Tests: The bill also mandates updates for side-impact testing. Within 18 months, the DOT has to include both male and female dummies in these tests, too, with similar real-world injury criteria. (SEC. 3(b)). Proposed and final rules using both dummies must be issued withing 2 and 30 months respectively. (SEC. 3(b)).
  • Real-World Impact: Think about a delivery driver making their rounds. Side-impact crashes can be particularly dangerous. By including female dummies, the bill pushes for better side-impact protection that takes into account different body types.
• New Car Ratings: The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), that star rating system you see when buying a car, will also be updated to include these new tests. (SEC. 3(a) & (b)).

Beyond the Basics: Looking Ahead

The She DRIVES Act isn't just about adding female dummies; it's about continuous improvement. The DOT has to report to Congress on how they'll incorporate other advanced testing devices, even looking at what other countries are using (like the European New Car Assessment Programme). (SEC. 4).

• Potential Challenges: While this bill is a big step forward, there could be bumps in the road. Carmakers might argue about the cost of new testing or claim technical difficulties in meeting the new requirements. It's also crucial that the "real-world injuries" used to set the criteria are defined clearly and fairly.

• Long-Term View: The She DRIVES Act is about making cars safer for everyone. By recognizing that men and women are built differently, and that crash impacts can vary, this bill aims to reduce injuries and fatalities on the road. It's a move towards more inclusive safety standards, and that's a win for all drivers and passengers.