Why Car Safety Standards Still Favor Men – and What’s Being Done About It

Women are significantly more likely to be seriously injured or die in car accidents than men. This disparity isn’t due to driving habits, but rather to the fact that car safety features are primarily designed and tested using data based on the male body. Despite decades of awareness, progress toward equitable safety standards has been slow, leaving women vulnerable on the road.

The Whiplash Effect and Low-Speed Impacts

In May 2024, Heidi Bouwdewijns, 54, experienced a common scenario: a low-speed rear-complete collision while waiting at a roundabout. While the impact was minor – less than 15 kilometers per hour – she was left with debilitating whiplash and a severe headache. This experience highlights a critical issue: women are almost twice as likely to suffer whiplash injuries in low-speed rear impacts compared to men.

The “Male as Benchmark” Problem

For years, the automotive safety industry has relied on crash test dummies modeled after the “average” man. The Hybrid III 50th percentile male dummy, standing 1.75 meters tall and weighing 77 kilograms, is the standard used in most crash tests. While some larger and smaller male dummies, and even child dummies, are utilized, representation for the average female body has been historically lacking. A female dummy, when used, is typically a smaller version of the male dummy with added breasts, representing a woman of approximately 1.51 meters in height and 52 kilograms in weight.

Knowledge vs. Action: The Female Dummy Dilemma

The require for a more representative female crash test dummy has been recognized since 2012, when researchers at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI), led by Professor Astrid Linder, developed the first prototype. Linder emphasized that designing a female dummy was the logical next step, given the known differences in how male and female bodies respond to collisions. However, the implementation of this knowledge has been stalled by a lack of demand from the automotive industry and testing companies.

According to Humanetics, a global technology organization specializing in crash test dummies, production of a female dummy is contingent on actual sales. The industry, driven by profit, is hesitant to invest in new testing procedures unless mandated by law. As long as testing with the female dummy isn’t legally required, there’s little incentive for manufacturers to adopt it.

Legislation and Regulatory Gaps

Currently, the Hybrid III 50th percentile male dummy is the only one legally required for safety testing within the European Union. This means that Euro NCAP, an independent organization that provides car safety ratings, does not mandate the utilize of the female dummy in its crash tests. Professor Linder points out the disparity, stating that if the issue concerned the safety of children, there would be immediate action, highlighting a societal undervaluation of women’s safety.

Past attempts to address the issue through parliamentary questions, such as those raised in 2019 by Rutger Schonis (D66) in the Netherlands, have yielded limited results. Responses from officials often cited existing safety regulations as sufficient for both men and women, overlooking the fact that these regulations primarily focus on the male body type. Similar discussions in the European Parliament, initiated by MEP Tilly Metz in 2022 and 2023, also failed to produce concrete changes.

The Data Gap and the Need for Standardization

A significant obstacle to progress is the lack of comprehensive, standardized data on crash injuries broken down by gender within Europe. While agencies like the Road Traffic Service (RDW), the Dutch Association of Insurers, the Institute for Scientific Research on Road Safety (SWOV), CBS, and the police collect data on traffic accidents, there’s no centralized database that distinguishes injuries based on gender, as exists in the United States. This lack of data hinders the development of targeted safety improvements.

Beyond Physical Differences: The Impact of Trauma

The consequences of car accidents extend beyond physical injuries. Sylvia van Rijzingen, who works with individuals recovering from traffic trauma, emphasizes the often-invisible suffering experienced by victims, including muscle tension, sleep disturbances, concentration problems, and heightened sensitivity. Heidi Bouwdewijns, nearly two years after her low-speed collision, continues to manage chronic pain and has adapted her daily life to accommodate her ongoing symptoms. Djamila van Leeuwen, another whiplash sufferer, experienced initial misunderstanding and a lack of information about her condition.

A Shift Towards Virtual Testing and a More Inclusive Approach

Some experts, like Edwards, a senior research engineer at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), believe that advancements in crash test software offer a promising alternative to relying solely on physical dummies. Virtual crash tests allow researchers to simulate how a wide range of occupants – varying in age, size, and body shape – will react in different accident scenarios. This approach could provide a more comprehensive understanding of injury mechanisms and inform the design of safer vehicles for everyone.

Breaking the Cycle and Looking Ahead

Despite ongoing research and increased awareness, progress remains slow. The automotive safety industry, testing companies, and policymakers are caught in a cyclical pattern of pointing fingers at one another. Astrid Linder, who initially predicted improvements by 2030, acknowledges that continued inaction could delay meaningful change. Addressing this issue requires a concerted effort to prioritize data collection, update safety regulations, and embrace innovative testing methods to ensure that all road users, regardless of gender, are adequately protected.