U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), and a bipartisan group of lawmakers have introduced the She DRIVES Act, a landmark bill aimed at making vehicles safer for all Americans—especially women—by modernizing federal crash testing standards.
The bill, formally titled the She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety (She DRIVES) Act, would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to incorporate the most advanced crash test dummies, including those that accurately represent female bodies, into its vehicle safety testing protocols.
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“It is past time for crash testing to reflect the full range of drivers and passengers on the road,” said Senator Britt. “By updating standards to include female crash test dummies, we can make cars safer for everyone and better protect our loved ones.”
According to the NHTSA, more than 1,300 women die each year in car crashes who may have otherwise survived if crash safety protections were equally effective for both sexes. Studies show that women are 17% more likely to die in auto accidents and significantly more likely to suffer serious injuries compared to men, in part due to outdated crash testing protocols that primarily rely on male models.
The legislation would direct NHTSA to update its Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) to improve crashworthiness testing using devices that better reflect the diversity of real-world drivers and passengers, including women, elderly individuals, and other vulnerable groups.
Senator Fischer called the bill a commonsense step forward.
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“Outdated crash testing standards make women 17 percent more likely to be killed in auto crashes than men, but that doesn’t have to be the case,” she said. “By updating crash test dummy standards, our bill will save thousands of lives and prevent thousands more serious injuries each year.”
The push for reform comes after a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report criticized NHTSA’s testing program, pointing out its failure to meet its own deadlines and fully deploy a more representative “family” of crash test dummies.
In Alabama, where Senator Britt represents over 2.1 million licensed female drivers—more than male drivers—car crashes claimed the lives of over 3,000 women between 2011 and 2021, underscoring the urgent need for more inclusive safety standards.
The She DRIVES Act passed unanimously out of the Senate Commerce Committee last month and is now headed to the full Senate for consideration. Britt also cosponsored the bill during the previous Congress.
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Proponents of the legislation say its implementation would not only save lives but also reduce the economic burden of crash-related injuries and fatalities, which cost billions annually in medical care, insurance, and lost productivity.
If passed, the She DRIVES Act would mark a significant milestone in making U.S. roadways safer for everyone—regardless of gender.
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