In 2019, a devastating collision altered the course of my family’s life. A driver attempting to overtake a motorcycle collided with our car, leaving my husband and son with broken bones and my daughter and me with severe injuries. Our seatbelts inflicted wounds as they tore through our abdomens, and I suffered a traumatic brain injury from the airbag impact.
This incident raised a troubling question: Why did the same safety devices protect my husband and son, while almost costing my daughter and me our lives? A story from Consumer Reports ignited my quest for answers. It revealed that women are 17% more likely to be killed and 73% more likely to be seriously injured in car crashes compared to men.
At the time, I worked at a think tank advocating for the use of technology and data to solve public issues, a concept called ‘public interest technology.’ I believed in governmental solutions. I was confident my connections could help save women’s lives. My research led me to discover biofidelic crash test dummies at a facility dedicated to their creation. These dummies account for anatomical differences between men and women that can affect car safety.
“Women are 17% more likely to be killed in crashes and 73% more likely to be seriously injured.”
Up until 2011, female dummies weren’t mandated in crash tests. Today, American car makers don’t use biofidelic female dummies, as they can receive a five-star safety rating without them. I reached out to contacts, including a chief data officer in the Biden administration, to address this critical safety issue. Despite my efforts, political commitments were prioritized over public safety.
I also met with Department of Transportation officials, but they dismissed the need for testing using female dummies. Their tests primarily cater to the average 1970s-era male, overlooking many individuals, including women. Bureaucratic responses only reinforced my skepticism about the government’s priorities.
Last November, the Trump administration issued a press release supporting biofidelic dummies, yet regulations remain unchanged. Progress is slow, but the bipartisan She DRIVES Act offers a glimmer of hope with legislative efforts to address this issue.
No family should endure the trauma of a preventable accident. When data shows a significant oversight risking women’s lives, action is imperative. Instead, bureaucratic inertia prevails. America’s road safety record now ranks unfavorably compared to countries like Mexico and Sierra Leone. This situation demands urgent change.
Hana Schank is a journalist and policy strategist. Her past work includes serving as a digital expert in the Obama White House and leading the Public Interest Technology team at New America.