The Current The first female crash test dummy prepares to hit the road
Dec 8, 2025
Chris O'Connor, CEO of Humanetics and the 'father of the modern crash test dummy,' discusses a groundbreaking shift in vehicle safety. He reveals that traditional crash test dummies were male-based, leaving women at higher injury risk. O'Connor introduces the Thor 5F, the first female crash test dummy, designed to address specific injuries women face. He explains how new sensors are crucial for measuring lower-leg and abdominal impacts. O'Connor highlights the importance of regulations and advocacy, like the She Drives Act, in advancing vehicle safety standards for all.
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Male-Centric Testing Was The Default
- The industry historically used a 50th-percentile male dummy because early drivers were mostly men.
- Advances in sensors and biofidelity now let manufacturers create accurate female dummies to address real injury disparities.
Women Face Higher Injury Risk
- Women are 73% more likely than men to sustain serious injuries in comparable crashes.
- Specific female vulnerabilities include pelvis, liver and lower-leg injuries that went under-measured.
Thor Dummies Are Sensor-Dense
- Humanetics' Thor dummies pack about 150 sensors compared with 20–30 in older models.
- Chris O'Connor says new sensor placement reveals female-specific injury patterns like lower-leg trauma.