US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) joined ‘CBS Mornings’ to discuss their bipartisan bill, the She Develops Regulations in Vehicle Equality and Safety (She DRIVES) Act.
The legislation will modernize vehicle safety tests by requiring the use of the most advanced testing devices available—including a female crash test dummy—and updating U.S. crashworthiness testing procedures.
The bill was introduced in January, passed the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in February, and now awaits full Senate consideration. It is supported by Drive US Forward, Women Drive Too, and the National Safety Council.
On the She DRIVES Act:
Fischer: “Whether driving or as passengers, we want to make sure that women are safe when they get in a vehicle.”
Duckworth: “We’re taking the next step. And let’s see if we can’t remedy the situation.”
Fischer: “And make it safer. …”
Duckworth: “So that all those moms and daughters and sisters and best friends come home.”
Background:
Multiple studies have shown that women die and are seriously injured at much higher rates than men in crashes. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,300 women die every year who would have otherwise lived if female death and injury rates were comparable to that of males.
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report outlined the deficiencies in crash testing program, and NHTSA has missed multiple self-declared deadlines on dummy deployment. While NHTSA has long acknowledged that a family of crash test dummies is needed for accurate crash tests, the agency has yet to deploy dummies or tests that represent females, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.
Click here to read the text of the bill.