This new crash test dummy could save women’s lives: meet THOR‑05F, the first female‑body model changing car safety forever

For decades, car safety testing has relied on a default “male” template — a single reference crash dummy that didn’t reflect the anatomy of half the population. Today, that changes with the arrival of THOR‑05F, the first crash test dummy specifically engineered to replicate female biomechanics. This is more than a technical development: it’s a long‑overdue correction to systemic bias in vehicle safety design that has tangible consequences for women’s health on the road.

Why a female crash dummy matters

Research has repeatedly shown that, in comparable collisions, women are more likely to suffer certain types of injuries than men — particularly chest, pelvic and cervical trauma. Until now, safety systems (seatbelts, airbags, headrests) were largely calibrated using male‑based dummies, so they were optimized against injury mechanisms typical for that body shape. The result: a protection gap. THOR‑05F addresses this by modelling anatomical differences that matter in real crashes.

What makes THOR‑05F different?

Developed by Humanetics, THOR‑05F is not a simple size tweak. Its design incorporates several key female‑specific features:

a wider pelvis reflecting female bony anatomy;

a spine with different flexibility and curvature properties;

a distribution of soft tissues and organs that matches adult female physiology;

over 150 high‑precision sensors that capture forces on bones, organs and joints during impact.

These sensors provide data that previous dummies could not — revealing injury pathways and stress points unique to female bodies.

How this will change car design

Data from THOR‑05F can influence vehicle safety at multiple levels:

Seatbelt geometry and pre‑tensioning systems can be re‑calibrated to reduce thoracic and pelvic loading in women.

Airbag deployment timing and shape may be optimized to protect smaller chests without increasing other risks.

Seat and headrest designs can be adjusted to mitigate cervical spine injuries that often differ between sexes.

Crash avoidance and restraint algorithms can be validated against a broader set of human models, improving protection for diverse occupants.

It’s part of a broader « gendered data » movement

THOR‑05F sits within a wider push for sex‑ and gender‑sensitive data across health and technology. Historically, many fields — from drug trials to medical diagnostics — used male‑dominated samples, producing treatments, dose recommendations and safety standards less suited to women. The same pitfall affected automotive safety. By integrating female biomechanics into testing standards, manufacturers and regulators finally recognise that “one size fits all” puts people at risk.

What this means for everyday women drivers and passengers

Practically speaking, the widespread adoption of female crash dummy data should translate into safer cars for women and their families. You can expect:

Lower risk of severe chest and pelvic injuries in frontal and offset impacts;

Improved protection against neck injuries thanks to better headrest and seat geometry;

Fewer unnecessary invasive procedures resulting from over‑conservative diagnostics — since dummies will better predict real injury patterns.

Importantly, these gains benefit all occupants: better restraint design and smarter airbags improve overall occupant safety, not just for women.

Remaining challenges

While THOR‑05F is a breakthrough, several hurdles remain:

Standards and regulations must evolve to require female dummies alongside male ones in homologation tests.

Female physiology is diverse: age, body shape, bone density and pregnancy status all alter biomechanics. A single female dummy cannot represent all women, so the future must include a range of female models.

Industry adoption will take time and investment. Small manufacturers and repair sectors will need guidance and resources to adjust.

How regulators and manufacturers should respond

To make the most of this innovation, policy makers and auto makers should:

Mandate inclusion of female dummies in crash testing protocols and consumer safety ratings;

Support research to expand the range of female models (different ages, body compositions);

Incorporate new data into seatbelt standards, airbag algorithms and head restraint designs;

Communicate transparently with consumers about changes and benefits.

What you can do now

Be informed: ask dealers or manufacturers about the safety testing used for a vehicle, and whether tests include female models.

Prioritise vehicles with strong overall safety ratings and up‑to‑date restraint technologies.

Encourage public conversation: share information about gendered safety gaps with friends and family — awareness drives change.

THOR‑05F signals a pivotal shift — from designing for a default male body to designing for real people in all their diversity. For readers of Princess‑Daisy, this development is a reminder that safety is not static: it evolves as science catches up with society’s needs. As carmakers and regulators adopt these insights, we can expect the road to become safer for everyone — and that’s a change worth celebrating and supporting.