For the first time ever, American car companies will soon be required to test vehicle safety using dummies that are representative of women. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled an advanced female crash test dummy — the THOR-05F — that could help close the staggering gap of higher injury rates for women than men in certain crash scenarios. While the THOR-05F is not expected to be used in new car safety testing until 2027 or 2028, the technical details released from the highway safety agency are a major step forward. The data will allow automakers to design safety features based on new specifications and not the current standards, which have not been updated since the 1980s. The standard “female” crash test dummy in use today, known as the Hybrid III, weighs 108 pounds and is 4 feet, 11 inches tall. It was created in the 1970s and is based on the smallest 5% of American women. Read more at the link in bio.