Norton, Lawrence, Castor, DeLauro, and Schakowsky Receive Response from NHTSA on Female Crash Test Dummies

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Congresswoman Brenda L. Lawrence (D-MI), Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) received a response from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to their letter expressing concerns about the gender-based disparities in traffic injuries and fatalities that are in part attributable to the absence of accurate female crash test dummies in the motor vehicle crash test system. NHTSA informed the Members that they have accelerated the development of new, more advanced female crash test dummies for use in the New Car Assessment Program and the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, with the goal of issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking in 2023.

"Gender inequity in crash testing has fatal consequences," the Members said. "We are pleased that NHTSA is taking steps to prioritize women's safety on the road."

The female crash test dummies most commonly used by NHTSA are simply scaled-down versions of the male crash test dummies, even though female drivers are significantly more vulnerable to certain injuries in crashes, such as those to the neck and abdomen.

The text of NHTSA's response letter, with personal contact information redacted, is below:

October 7, 2022

The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative Norton:

Thank you for your letter regarding the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). We share your concern about the unacceptable gender disparities in vehicle injuries and fatalities and the tragic loss of life on our nation's roadways. We face a crisis on our roadways that we must address together, and that is why we announced the National Roadway Safety Strategy last year with the aspirational goal of ultimately eliminating roadway deaths.

We have enclosed the Interim Report to Congress on Crash Test Dummies and appreciate this opportunity to update you on this administration's commitment to accelerate the update of crash dummies used in the NCAP and FMVSS to the most technologically advanced models available.

NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis recently released important research examining gender disparities in crash fatalities involving like crashes. The new study contains encouraging findings on reductions in disparities in newer model year (MY) vehicles. The overall difference in fatality risk between male and female occupants dropped from 18.3 percent for MY 1960-2009 vehicles to 2.9 percent for MY 2015-2020 vehicles. While this reduction is noteworthy, any remaining disparities are unacceptable.

Currently, NHTSA uses two adult female crash dummies: the Hybrid III 5th Percentile Adult Female Frontal Crash Test Dummy (HIII-05F) and the Side Impact Dummy (SID)-IIs 5th Percentile Adult Female Side Crash Test Dummy (SID-IIs). NHTSA also uses two adult male crash test dummies: The Hybrid III 50th Percentile Adult Male Frontal Crash Test Dummy (HIII-50M) and the EuroSID-2 with Rib Extensions 50th Percentile Adult Male Side Crash Test Dummy (ES2re). Additionally, there are seven child crash test dummies that are detailed in full, along with those mentioned here, in the enclosed Interim Report to Congress on Crash Test Dummies. The dummies used in crash tests are selected to address safety concerns identified in field and test data accounting for occupant demographics, occupant seating positions, and crash direction and speed.

As you note in your letter, there are new, more advanced, female dummies that are currently under development and that hold great promise for improving safety. They include the Test Device for Human Occupant Restraint (THOR) 5th Percentile Adult Female Frontal Crash Test Dummy (THOR-05F) and the World Side Impact Dummy (WorldSID) 5th Percentile Adult Female Side Crash Test Dummy (WorldSID-05F). The THOR-05F features improved measurement capabilities over the current model, including face loads, clavicle loads, thorax displacement, abdominal pressure, acetabulum loads, and ankle displacements and loads. Under this administration, NHTSA has accelerated the development of these dummies for use in the FMVSS and NCAP. However, through testing of the prototypes, NHTSA has identified issues with bio-fidelity and replicable results that must be rectified prior to issuing final specifications. NHTSA is working with the dummy developer to address these design issues with the goal of issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking in 2023.

With the accelerated efforts to use the most technologically advanced dummies available in the NCAP and FMVSS, I am confident we will continue our progress toward closing any remaining gender gaps in new MY vehicles, including differences in injury outcomes in new vehicles. Though we lack the ability to affect the design of older vehicles, many of which lack the safety features of newer vehicles, we will continue to address traffic crashes using every tool we have, including through the Department's Safe Streets for All program, through the implementation of our Highway Safety Grants, and by targeting communications to reduce behaviors that contribute to crashes like impaired, distracted, and unbelted driving and speeding. These efforts can and will make our roadways safer for all drivers.

If I can provide further information or assistance, please reach out to me or contact Ron Thaniel, Director of Governmental and External Affairs at [ ]. A similar response has been sent to each cosigner of your letter.

Sincerely,

Ann Carlson

Enclosure

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