Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Deb Fischer have introduced the She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety (She DRIVES) Act, a bipartisan initiative aimed at improving passenger vehicle safety. The legislation proposes modernizing vehicle safety tests by incorporating advanced testing devices, including female crash test dummies.

"It is past time for crash testing to reflect the full range of drivers and passengers on the road. By updating standards to include female crash test dummies, we can make cars safer for everyone and better protect our loved ones," stated Senator Britt. "I’m proud to join my colleagues on this commonsense legislation that will truly save lives."

Statistics indicate that as of 2022, Alabama has over 2.1 million licensed female drivers, surpassing male drivers by 129,000. Between 2011 and 2021, more than 3,000 women lost their lives in car crashes.

Research shows women face higher fatality and injury rates in crashes compared to men. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests that annually, 1,300 women could survive if their death and injury rates were similar to those of males. The bill aims to save billions in economic impact through preventing injuries and fatalities.

The She DRIVES Act seeks to enhance passenger vehicle safety by revising crashworthiness testing procedures under NHTSA’s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The complete text of the legislation is available online.

"Outdated crash testing standards make women 17 percent more likely to be killed in auto crashes than men, but that doesn’t have to be the case. By updating crash test dummy standards, our bill will save thousands of lives and prevent thousands more serious injuries each year," said Senator Fischer.

A report from the Government Accountability Office highlighted deficiencies in current crash testing programs. Despite recognizing the need for diverse crash test dummies for accurate assessments, NHTSA has not yet deployed models representing females or other vulnerable groups.

The She DRIVES Act recently passed unanimously out of the Senate Commerce Committee and awaits consideration by the full Senate. Senator Britt also supported this act during the 118th Congress.