She DRIVES Act

Bill Number: S. 161
Origin Chamber: Senate
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Transportation and Public Works
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-07-31: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 141.
Last Updated: 2026-03-12T16:03:59Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety Act (She DRIVES Act) aims to improve motor vehicle safety by updating federal crash testing standards and the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). It requires the use of advanced crash test dummies (devices that simulate human bodies in crashes) that better represent both average-sized adult males and smaller adult females, focusing on frontal and side impact tests. This addresses gaps in current testing, which often relies on male-focused dummies, to enhance protection for all occupants based on real-world crash data.

Key Provisions

Definitions:
Crashworthiness: The ability of a vehicle to protect occupants during a crash (as defined in existing U.S. law).
Secretary: Refers to the Secretary of Transportation.
Testing device: Crash test dummies used to check if vehicles meet federal safety rules, as outlined in federal regulations (49 CFR Part 572).

Updates to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS):
Frontal Impacts:
Within 15 days of enactment, add two new dummies to regulations: THOR-50M (for an average adult male) and THOR-05F (for a small adult female).
Issue final rules requiring their use: within 180 days for the male dummy; a proposed rule within 60 days and final rule within 120 days for the female dummy.
Update injury measures (e.g., for head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, legs) based on actual crash injuries to maximize safety.
Require frontal crash tests for female dummies in all front seats currently tested for males.
Side Impacts:
Within 18 months, add two new dummies: WorldSID-50M (average adult male) and WorldSID-05F (small adult female).
Issue a proposed rule within 2 years and final rule within 30 months requiring their use.
Update injury measures (e.g., for head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, upper legs) based on real-world data.
Require side crash tests for female dummies in all front seats currently tested for males.

New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) Updates:
Update NCAP (a voluntary program rating vehicle crash safety) to use the new dummies for testing passenger vehicles.
Time these updates to align with FMVSS rules without causing delays; if alignment would delay rules, prioritize the rules.

Testing Devices Roadmap:
Within 1 year, submit a report to Senate and House committees detailing:
Timelines for adding other researched dummies to regulations.
Advanced dummies used in other countries for similar tests.
A process for updating U.S. dummies, including adopting foreign ones (e.g., from Europe's NCAP); if no updates needed, explain why for each current dummy.
Within 5 years of the first report, submit a follow-up on progress and new foreign advancements.

Savings Provision: The law does not limit the Secretary's ability to update dummies through other processes after these requirements are met.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Mandates inclusion of small female dummies (5th percentile size) in FMVSS and NCAP, which currently use mostly average male dummies (50th percentile), leading to less accurate testing for women and smaller people.
Introduces strict timelines for rulemaking, including proposed and final rules, differing from the usual flexible agency process.
Requires injury criteria updates tied to real-world data, expanding tests to all front seats for females (previously male-only in some cases).
Adds reporting on international standards, promoting potential adoption of global best practices not previously required.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, part of the Department of Transportation) faces increased responsibilities for rapid rulemaking, testing, and reporting, potentially raising costs but improving safety oversight.
Citizens: Could reduce crash injuries and deaths, especially for women (who make up about half of drivers but are underrepresented in tests), leading to safer vehicles overall; may indirectly increase car prices as manufacturers adapt.
International Relations: Encourages harmonization with global standards (e.g., Europe's), easing U.S. auto exports/imports and fostering collaboration on safety research without direct diplomatic effects.

Main Stakeholders Affected

NHTSA and Department of Transportation: Primary implementers, responsible for rules, tests, and reports.
Automobile Manufacturers: Must redesign and test vehicles to meet new standards, affecting production costs and compliance.
Consumers (especially women and smaller individuals): Benefit from better safety protections in crashes.
Safety Advocacy Groups: Gain tools to push for equitable testing; may influence future updates.
International Auto Organizations: Impacted by U.S. alignment with foreign standards, potentially standardizing global testing.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Enforces tight deadlines on agency rulemaking, which could invite lawsuits if missed (e.g., under the Administrative Procedure Act); ensures transparency via congressional reports.
Constitutional: Advances equal protection principles by addressing gender disparities in safety testing, potentially reducing unequal risks to female occupants without raising major constitutional challenges.
Political: Bipartisan bill (introduced by senators from both parties) emphasizes public safety and equity; no major controversies noted, but could spark debates on regulatory burdens for industry versus benefits for vulnerable groups.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]

Cosponsors (13)

Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI], Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL], Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS], Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]

Recent Actions

2025-07-31: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 141.
2025-07-31: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-56.
2025-07-31: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-56.
2025-02-05: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
2025-01-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
2025-01-21: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety Act — issued 2025-01-21 — PDF (11 pages)
She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety Act — issued 2025-07-31 — PDF (22 pages)