USDOT unveils new female crash test dummy

(CNN)– The U.S. Transportation Department has unveiled a new female crash test dummy.

The DOT says the new dummy’s shape and response in a crash are based on women’s bodies.

So carmakers can better understand how seatbelts, airbags, and other parts of a vehicle affect female drivers.

A bipartisan group of Senate lawmakers pushed for this change saying it would improve women’s safety overall.

According to a 2019 University of Virginia study women who wore seat belts still had a significantly higher risk of being severely injured in crashes compared to men who wore seat belts.