THOR 05F Female Crash Test Dummy Signals New Era in Safety Research

Learn how federal officials and Humanetics introduced the THOR 05F female crash test dummy to improve safety data for women and reshape modern vehicle testing.

For decades, car safety assessments were shaped by crash tests that relied almost exclusively on male-based dummies. The system appeared functional until research revealed a troubling reality: women are 73% more likely to be seriously injured in frontal collisions compared with men in similar crashes. Safety features such as seatbelts and airbags had been optimized around male anatomy, leaving women at a clear disadvantage.

Some regions saw the problem earlier. Sweden, for example, developed a female dummy years ago, and European regulators signaled intentions to integrate it into testing, putting pressure on American agencies. Yet in the United States, the so-called female dummy was still only a scaled-down male model with minimal anatomical adjustments, offering little meaningful insight.

That long-standing gap is now narrowing with the introduction of the THOR 05F dummy. Created through a collaboration between federal safety officials and Humanetics, the advanced model represents women’s bodies rather than a reduced male frame. Outfitted with more than 150 sensors, it collects roughly three times more injury data than current designs while remaining durable and highly precise.

The THOR 05F captures critical anatomical differences that directly influence injury patterns: pelvis shape determines how the seatbelt loads during a crash, neck structure affects the forces acting on the upper body, and the composition of the lower legs shapes how impact energy travels. This deeper insight offers engineers a way to evaluate safety systems with unprecedented accuracy.

Although full regulatory integration will take additional steps and time, the availability of the THOR 05F already marks a major shift. Automakers can now examine why the same safety technologies protect men and women differently, while regulators gain the data needed to update long-standing testing protocols.

For advocates like Maria Weston Kuhn, who suffered severe injuries when her seatbelt slid off her hips during a crash, this development represents more than technological progress. It finally provides an explanation for failures that once seemed unpredictable and gives hope that future vehicles will protect women as effectively as they do men. The THOR 05F moves the industry closer to a more equitable and scientifically grounded approach to automotive safety.