For the first time in U.S. history, a crash-test dummy designed with female anatomy in mind has been introduced at the federal level. The new THOR-05F model is a response to decades of ignoring physiological differences between men and women in automotive safety.
Until now, crash tests in the United States have used the Hybrid III dummy, created in the late 1970s based on the average male: 175 cm tall and 78 kg in weight. For decades, this standardized model shaped safety standards — despite the fact that women are 73% more likely to suffer serious injuries in crashes of the same severity. The pelvis and abdominal organs are considered especially vulnerable areas for women.
Earlier, female dummies either did not exist at all or were presented as reduced copies of male dummies, while still reflecting male anthropometry. The THOR-05F model is equipped with more than 150 sensors, allowing researchers to collect three times more information about possible injuries.
This development is an important step toward fairness and safety. Some automakers, such as Volvo and Mercedes-Benz, already use female dummies in their testing. Now the U.S. is closing a technological gap and correcting a historical injustice, which may help improve real-world road safety.
