In a landmark move for road safety, the US transportation department has unveiled its first crash test dummy specifically modelled on female anatomy. The announcement, made on 10 June 2025, aims to close safety gaps that have persisted in vehicle testing for decades.
A Long-Overdue Step for Safety
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy presented the new THOR-05F dummy at Humanetics in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Officials described the introduction of this advanced female design as 'long overdue', marking a significant shift from the male-centric standards that have dominated crash testing.
The department confirmed that the THOR-05F will be incorporated into federal vehicle crash testing protocols once a final rule is published. This development addresses a critical disparity: while men are involved in more crashes overall, women are 73% more likely to sustain serious injuries in collisions of comparable severity and face a higher risk of specific trauma to the pelvis and liver.
Technical Superiority Over Outdated Models
The new dummy represents a technological leap from the long-serving Hybrid III, a model designed in 1978 based on a 5ft 9in, 171lb male. In stark contrast, the THOR-05F is described as more 'durable, accurate and lifelike'.
Its advanced capabilities are substantial. The THOR-05F is equipped with over 150 sensors and can gather three times as many injury measurements as its predecessor. Key improvements include:
- Assessing risk of skull fracture, brain injury, and facial fractures, unlike the Hybrid III which only assessed skull fracture risk.
- Superior flexibility, bending forward, backward, side-to-side, and twisting, whereas the Hybrid III only bent forward and backward.
- A life-like, flexible spine that can sit slouched or erect and measure forces in the lower spine.
- Sensors in the abdomen and pelvis to assess risk to internal organs and measure pelvis and hip forces.
- The ability to measure forces in the upper and lower arms, a feature completely absent in the old model.
The transportation department stated that its 'shape and response in a crash are based on female bodies', which will enable a better assessment of injury risks for smaller female occupants.
Broad Political and Safety Support
The unveiling was met with widespread approval from officials and lawmakers. Secretary Duffy emphasised the administration's commitment, stating, "Under the leadership of President Trump, this department will continue to put the safety of American families – including women – first."
National Highway Traffic Safety administrator Jonathan Morrison echoed this, calling it a 'long overdue step'. The announcement was also welcomed by US Senators Deb Fischer and Tammy Duckworth, co-sponsors of the She Drives Act, which seeks to improve vehicle safety testing.
"It's far past time to make these testing standards permanent, which will help save thousands of lives," said Fischer. Duckworth added, "Any progress here is good because there's simply no good reason why women are more likely to be injured or die in car crashes."
With this move, the US follows other nations like Australia and Sweden in adopting improved, female-specific crash test dummies, signalling a new era of inclusive vehicle safety.
