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@jonobie@social.coop

Post #755929

2026-03-24 13:57 UTC

Women are 73% more likely to be severely injured in a car crash, and 17% more likely to die than men. All because car companies have been resisting testing for women since forever. I’m not surprised on several levels. As I’ve gotten older and have larger breasts, seatbelts basically are impossible to put at the right spot on me anymore. And that’s just one example. Apparently there’s a current She Drives act in the senate that’s aimed at fixing this, which could use support. NYT gift article about the history; https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/opinion/car-safety-women-crash-dummies.html?unlocked_article_code=1.VlA.E5Pw.EZIR7otGFPSa&smid=nytcore-ios-share She Drives act: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/opinion/car-safety-women-crash-dummies.html?unlocked_article_code=1.VlA.E5Pw.EZIR7otGFPSa&smid=nytcore-ios-share

Replies (3)

  • @EllenInEdmonton@yeg.bike 2026-03-24 14:56

    @jonobie Very interesting, and I rarely watch videos! Driving isn't the only area of scientific research that is male-focussed, but I believe that there's been a bit of movement in other areas of medical research since the last century.

    Open ##1730667

  • @Gina@fosstodon.org 2026-03-24 16:07

    @jonobie relatable. Unless adjustable, every cars seat belt basically rests on my neck instead of my chest. It's painfully obvious that we, 50% of the population, weren't taken into account by most car manufacturers.

    Open ##1730668

  • @lizzard@social.tchncs.de 2026-03-24 17:17

    @jonobie according to a German article, the US use three models: average man, 5th percentile smallest and lightest, and 5th percentile heaviest and largest (although by 1970ies standards). That's where the small dummy mentioned in the video comes from. The EU apparently doesn't even have those. (!) The article cites experts that say height and weight matter much more than anatomical differences. They do, however, point out that we need *old* dummies! Old bones break more easily - and that could be modeled by the Thor dummy generation, so there's yet another reason to mandate their use. https://www.br.de/nachrichten/wissen/gender-safety-gap-braucht-es-mehr-weibliche-crashtest-dummys,V8GWNfq

    Open ##1730670