The US government has released a new crash test dummy design, a development advocates believe will help make cars safer for women . This comes as women are 73% more likely to be injured in a head-on crash and 17% more likely to be killed in a car crash than men .

The standard crash test dummy, developed in 1978 and modelled after a 5-foot-9, 171-pound man, has long been cited as a factor in this disparity. A smaller female dummy, featuring a rubber jacket to represent breasts, is routinely tested in passenger or rear seats but seldom in the driver ’s position, despite women making up the majority of licensed drivers.

The Department of Transportation (DoT) will consider using the new dummy in the government's vehicle crash test five-star ratings once a final rule is adopted. T

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