Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, reintroduced legislation to modernize vehicle safety tests by requiring the use of the most advanced testing devices available—including a female crash test dummy. The She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety (She DRIVES) Act would enhance passenger vehicle safety by updating U.S. crashworthiness testing procedures.
In addition to Senator Fischer, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).
“Outdated crash testing standards make women 17 percent more likely to be killed in auto crashes than men, but that doesn’t have to be the case. By updating crash test dummy standards, our bill will save thousands of lives and prevent thousands more serious injuries each year,” said Senator Fischer.
“Women are the majority of drivers on our streets and are historically less likely to get into a crash than men are—but they are also 73% more likely to sustain serious injuries from a crash. Despite this troubling statistic, conventional crash testing in the United States has never used female dummies appropriately. For the first time in over 60 years, this legislation will finally ensure that women are represented in crash testing, and it will prevent avoidable tragedies. We must pass this legislation immediately to keep our mothers and daughters safe on the road,” said Senator Blackburn.
“We can be doing more to improve our roadways and make sure visiting a family member or a routine trip to the grocery store doesn’t end in tragedy,” said Senator Duckworth. “I’m proud to help reintroduce this bipartisan legislation, which would help mitigate injuries and save lives on our roadways by ensuring our crash test standards better represent the safety needs of all Americans.”
“Women across Nebraska and the nation will be safer because of Senator Fischer. The reintroduction of the She DRIVES Act is a monumental step towards finally making cars safe for women,” said Maria Weston Kuhn, Founder and President of Drive US Forward.
“We are deeply grateful for Senator Deb Fischer’s leadership in championing this critical legislation and her ability to bring together a bipartisan group of Senators, including Senator Patty Murray, Senator Marsha Blackburn, and Senator Tammy Duckworth. This bill reflects their shared commitment to having female crash test dummies included in testing for car safety standards. Senator Fischer and her colleagues have shown that women’s safety is not a partisan issue but a necessary priority,” said Susan Molinari and Beth Brooke, Co-Chairs of Women Drive Too.
“Unfortunately on American roads today, how safe you are depends on who you are,” said Lorraine Martin, President and CEO of the National Safety Council. “We have the tools to eliminate the gap in crash fatality and serious injury risk, and the time has long since passed to employ them. The National Safety Council applauds Senator Fischer and her bipartisan efforts to ensure our vehicles are built to keep everyone safe through test devices that resemble the American public.”
Background:
Multiple studies have shown that women die and are seriously injured at much higher rates than men in crashes. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,300 women die every year who would have otherwise lived if female death and injury rates were comparable to that of males.
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report outlined the deficiencies in crash testing program, and NHTSA has missed multiple self-declared deadlines on dummy deployment. While NHTSA has long acknowledged that a family of crash test dummies is needed for accurate crash tests, the agency has yet to deploy dummies or tests that represent females, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.
The She DRIVES Act would enhance passenger vehicle safety by updating crashworthiness testing procedures under NHTSA’s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
The bill would require the use of the most advanced testing devices available — including a female crash test dummy and a more technologically advanced male dummy.
The legislation would also establish injury criteria based on real-world data and introduce specific crashworthiness tests for female occupants in both front and rear seating positions.
The bill is estimated to save 1,300+ lives, prevent and mitigate tens of thousands of serious injuries, and save billions of dollars in economic impact from preventing and mitigating injuries and deaths.
Click here to read the text of the bill.