Seventy-three percent: that’s how much more likely women are to be seriously injured in a car crash compared to men, and for five decades, the U.S. let car companies skip female crash test dummies entirely.

Story Snapshot

• The federal government has, for the first time, endorsed a female crash test dummy for automotive safety standards.
• Women are 73% more likely than men to suffer serious injuries in vehicle crashes, a gap long ignored in U.S. safety testing.
• Technical specifications for the female dummy have been published, but actual implementation in crash tests is still pending.
• Advocates and regulators disagree on whether this move will fully close the gender safety gap or just scratch the surface.

Regulators Finally Confront a Fifty-Year Safety Blind Spot

For almost half a century, American car safety rested on a single assumption: if it saved men, it saved everyone. Federal crash test dummies, used to engineer airbags, seat belts, and car frames, mirrored the average male body and nothing else. That left a gaping hole in safety standards—one that became increasingly indefensible as data piled up showing women’s bodies respond differently in collisions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s November 2025 announcement to endorse a female crash test dummy signals overdue recognition of this reality.

European regulators were ahead of the curve, embracing female dummies years before the U.S. As American manufacturers watched from the sidelines, women continued to face higher injury risks, especially to the legs and abdomen. The new U.S. female dummy addresses these vulnerabilities with additional sensors specifically designed to measure forces on lower extremities and abdominal regions—areas where previous male-centric models failed to capture critical injury data. 

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What the New Dummy Means for American Cars—and Why It’s Not Enough (Yet)

The Department of Transportation’s technical documents lay out the specs: the female dummy is smaller, lighter, and equipped with enhanced data collection, promising to reshape how vehicles are tested and rated. This change is more than symbolic. It gives car companies a blueprint for designing safer vehicles for all occupants—at least on paper. Yet the regulatory process is only half finished. NHTSA’s current stance is cautious; while technical specs are published, the final rule requiring actual use in crash tests is projected for 2028. That means manufacturers have three years to adapt, but until then, the status quo holds.

Industry, Advocacy, and the Power Struggle Over Real Safety Reform

Manufacturers face a complex transition. Each crash test dummy costs more than $1 million, and integrating new testing protocols means retooling facilities, retraining engineers, and rethinking vehicle design from seats to airbags. Resistance is predictable: companies argue that the older standard is “available and easy,” and some privately question whether a single female dummy can represent the diversity of female physiology. Indeed, critics point out that the new dummy is “extremely small,” raising questions about whether it will protect the average woman—or merely check a regulatory box. The NHTSA administrator called the new dummy “a long overdue step,” but the agency’s measured pace reflects the complexity of rewriting decades-old safety standards.

The Ripple Effects: Gender Equity, Economics, and Future Innovation

Once implemented, the female crash test dummy promises wide-reaching impacts. For women, it could mean safer cars and a dramatic reduction in serious injuries. For manufacturers, it represents a new era of accountability—and cost. The insurance industry may see shifts in claims patterns as vehicles better protect all occupants, and safety advocates hope the precedent will pressure other industries to rethink their own standards. 

The story is still unfolding. The technical blueprint exists, but the final rule—and the real test of industry compliance—lies ahead. As the deadline approaches, expect fierce debate, regulatory wrangling, and a spotlight on whether the U.S. can finally close the gender gap in car safety.

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WMRA: The female crash test dummy has been a long time coming, but she isn’t here yet