U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has revealed the design for the first-of-its-kind advanced female crash test dummy, the THOR-05F, marking a significant step in automotive safety testing. Initiated during the first Trump Administration, the dummy aims to address the higher injury rates women experience compared with men in certain crash scenarios.
For decades, crash testing relied on the Hybrid III dummy, primarily modelled on male anatomy. Advances in technology now allow engineers to incorporate the biological differences between male and female bodies, providing more precise safety data for women in vehicles.
“The Left doesn’t want to hear it, but the science is clear: there are only two sexes – male and female. That biological fact isn’t just a talking point – it’s an important safety consideration when designing cars,” said Secretary Duffy. “After years of delays, our team has worked hard over the last eight months to finalize the details for this new, state of the art female crash test dummy. Under the leadership of President Trump, this Department will continue to put the safety of American families – including women – first.”
Jonathan Morrison, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), added: “Safety drives everything we do at NHTSA. Better understanding the unique ways in which women are impacted differently in crashes than men is essential to reducing traffic fatalities. This is a long overdue step toward the full adoption of this new dummy for use in our safety ratings and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.”
Equipped with over 150 sensors, the THOR-05F is more durable and lifelike than previous models, capable of collecting three times as many injury measurements. The specifications have now been finalised, allowing dummy manufacturers to produce units for industry testing and enabling automakers to evaluate vehicle safety more accurately for female occupants.
The initiative aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order on “Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” which emphasises accounting for the physical differences between male and female bodies in safety testing.
NHTSA outlined that the THOR-05F, a small female frontal crash test dummy, provides improved measurement and response capabilities. Its design supports better evaluation of brain, thorax, abdominal, pelvic, and lower leg injury risks for small female occupants. The extensive array of sensors will inform seatbelt, airbag, and vehicle structural safety, ultimately guiding regulatory standards and safer vehicle design.
Once a final rule is issued, THOR-05F will be considered for the New Car Assessment Program and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards compliance testing. NHTSA plans to publish five detailed documents outlining the dummy’s technical specifications.
