Child And Female Crash Test Dummies Now Being Utilized In Testing
April 9. 2012
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced that it would begin utilizing smaller dummies during crash tests. According to ABC News, the decision came after it was determined that women and children are more likely to be injured in car accidents.
A spokesman for General Motors, Jack Jensen, stated that the company now utilizes approximately 200 dummies to test the safety of their vehicles—35 of which are modeled after females. The reason for the different size dummies is because individuals with smaller bone density, such as women and children, are more likely to suffer injuries in a crash.
Initial tests reveal that women run a greater risk of being injured in frontal and side accidents. The tests also revealed that unlike male passengers, if an air bag goes off and strikes a female driver or passenger, it doesn’t always deflate—instead, it may give her whiplash.
Another addition to the crew of dummies is based on a 10-year-old child. The NHTSA stated that they added these dummies to the group to examine the affects a crash will have if a child over 65 pounds is restrained in a booster seat.
The Norfolk Auto Accident Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley Injury Lawyers hope that the new dummies will help the industry create better ways to keep automobile consumers safe from the dangers of a crash.
