Currently, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) performs auto crash tests with dummies that are 5 feet 9 inches and weigh 172 pounds.  That is roughly the height and weight of the average American male.  But critics have argued that these dummies are not representative of women and children, and that may possibly provide less safety for them.

This new lighter dummy will be 4 feet 11 inches tall.  The NHTSA think this will provide women and older children with the same amount of crash protection as men in the case of a car accident where a vehicle is speeding or gets hit by another object.

Our car accident attorneys strongly believe in the importance of safety.  So we are pleased to announce that crash test dummies used starting with the 2010 model year should include another lighter shorter version that is more representative of women and older children.

Also, a new test will be simulated starting with the 2010 models.  The new test may potentially provide valuable information for research to make cars safer for side impact auto accidents.  This new test will involve a heavier dummy at the driver’s seat along with a lighter dummy in the front passenger seat.  The automobile will slide sideways into a pole at 20 miles per hour.  The pole will be aimed to hit the car near the head of the dummy in the car’s front passenger seat, in an effort to simulate a traumatic brain injury as best as possible.

The NHTSA believes that the new lighter dummy along with the side-impact car crash test will provide much safer car rides for men, women, and children.  There will be 3 ratings (on a scale from 1 to 5 stars) for each motor vehicle, including frontal, side-impact, and propensity to roll over.  The NHTSA has also decided to produce an overall rating for each car taken from each of the 3 ratings.  Moreover, “virtual autmobile” accident crash dummies should be utilized soon.

All of this will give car buyers a better idea of just how safe the motor vehicle is overall, and it is believed the ratings will become more user-friendly.  Our firm’s experienced auto accident lawyers believe this should decrease the number of car accidents and injuries that require medical treatment from these accidents.

Call us now at 1-858-551-2090 or click here for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney and find out how we can help you.  We speak English and Spanish, and we look forward to providing advice for your case.  No fee if no recovery.