For decades, car safety has been tested using dummies modeled on the average male body, even though statistics show that women have a higher risk of neck injuries in low-speed accidents. VTI, Visual Sweden, and East Sweden Tech Women arranged a breakfast meetup where Professor of Traffic Safety Astrid Linder got to present her work with the world’s first female crash test dummy.
Astrid Linder, professor at research institute VTI has led a project aimed at creating the world’s first female crash test dummy that considers female anatomy. Today, no law mandates the use of a female crash test dummy in car safety testing and regulations encourage car manufacturers to conduct tests exclusively on male dummies, basing all measurements and safety standards on the average male body.
“With this report published, it’s not only car manufacturers who can make a change here. Everyone needs to get on board, including EU and governments to establish more inclusive test regulations, academia, and, of course, the companies,” Astrid explains.
The results indicate that women have up to 50% less protection than men against neck injuries in low-speed accidents. In addition, no crash test dummy exists specifically designed to measure the impact on a female body when an airbag deploys.
“The statistics we’ve uncovered are based on “old” data—figures that reflect the past and offer lessons. They don’t predict what’s going to happen in the future. This project has highlighted the differences we see. I don’t believe companies intend to endanger specific genders, but this research can serve as an eye-opener, encouraging the creation of cars that suit everyone and all body types,” she says.
Read more about Astrid’s latest publications
