Office of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer’s (R-Neb.) legislation to improve passenger vehicle safety passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee today. The She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety (She DRIVES) Act passed unanimously and is now eligible for a vote on the Senate floor.
If signed into law, the She DRIVES Act would enhance passenger safety by updating U.S. crashworthiness testing procedures. Today, the dummies used during crash testing are modeled after the average height and weight of an adult male. This bill would require the use of a female crash test dummy in addition to the male dummy, a reform that will save thousands of lives and prevent tens of thousands of serious injuries. 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.).
“Today, women are 17 percent more likely to be killed in auto crashes than men. That tragic statistic is a preventable one. Our bill will update crash test dummy standards to reflect the diversity of drivers on our roads, ensuring protection and safety for more Americans. I’m grateful a bipartisan group of my colleagues voted yes on this commonsense legislation, and I look forward to getting it passed soon,” said Senator Fischer.
“Women are far more vulnerable than men to sustaining serious injuries from a car crash,” said Senator Blackburn. “The She DRIVES Act would help keep our mothers and daughters safer on the road by ensuring that women are finally represented in crash testing.”
“We can be doing so much more to improve roadway safety 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 our bipartisan legislation passed through committee and is now that much closer to helping us save lives by ensuring our crash test standards better represent the safety needs of all Americans. I’ll continue to work with Senator Fischer as we push for the full Senate to pass this bipartisan bill—because all Americans deserve safer roadways.”
“We applaud Senator Fischer for her steadfast leadership in advancing the She DRIVES Act and ensuring that vehicle safety standards account for all drivers and passengers,” said Women Drive Too Co-Chairs Susan Molinari and Beth Brooke. “This bill is a critical step toward modernizing crash testing to reflect the real-world experiences of women on the road. We are grateful for the bipartisan support from the Commerce Committee and look forward to working with Congress to see this life-saving legislation become law.”
“For far too long, vehicle safety testing standards have failed American women. Today, with the advancement of the bipartisan She DRIVES Act, the Senate Commerce Committee voted to end this fatal discrimination. While this victory is a testament to the power of collaboration across the aisle and country, the fight is not over yet. Now, it’s up to the full Senate get this across the finish line,” said Drive US Forward President and Founder Maria Weston Kuhn.