The U.S. government has released a new crash test dummy design that advocates believe will help make cars safer for women. The Department of Transportation says it will consider using the dummy in the government’s five-star safety ratings once a final rule is adopted. Women are 73% more likely than men to be injured in a head-on crash, and 17% more likely than men to be killed in a car crash.

The new female dummy endorsed by the department more accurately reflects differences between men and women, including the shape of the neck, collarbone, pelvis, and legs. It’s outfitted with more than 150 sensors, the department said.

The existing female dummy is a smaller version of the male model. It’s routinely tested in the passenger seat or the back seat but seldom in the driver’s seat, even th

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