S. 161 · On the floor · Transportation and Public Works

She DRIVES Act

Sponsor: Deb Fischer (R-NE)

What it does

• Directs DOT to revise motor vehicle safety standards to require specific adult male and adult female frontal and side impact crash test dummies.
• Requires the final rules to set or update injury criteria for the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, upper leg, and lower leg based on real-world injuries and the greatest safety potential.
• Requires frontal and side impact crashworthiness tests for adult female occupants in every front seating position currently tested for adult males.
• Requires updated New Car Assessment Program procedures to use the dummies and reports to Congress on timelines for adding other dummy types and on devices used in other countries.

Official summary

She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety Act or the She DRIVES Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to revise motor vehicle safety standards to require the use of certain anthropomorphic test devices (i.e., crash test dummies) and testing on female crash test dummies. Specifically, DOT must issue final rules to revise the current testing regulations to include specific adult male and adult female frontal impact and side impact crash test dummies. The final rules must establish or update the testing injury criteria based on real-world injuries and the greatest potential to increase safety. The injury criteria must include head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, upper leg, and lower leg criteria for the crash test dummies. The final rules must also establish crashworthiness frontal and side impact tests for adult female occupants in all front seating positions that are currently tested for adult male occupants (as of the date of the bill's enactment). Further, DOT must promulgate a final decision notice to update the testing procedures for the New Car Assessment Program of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require the use of…

Latest action

Jul 31, 2025: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 141.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation