The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), part of the Department of Transportation, has issued a final rule updating the specifications for the Hybrid III 5th Percentile Female Test Dummy. These changes address issues with the chest jacket and spine box components, which are used in crash testing to ensure vehicle safety. The new specifications aim to resolve inconsistencies in jacket designs by adopting a standardized design and eliminating signal noise issues from the spine box. The rule is effective February 18, 2025, and is not expected to impose additional costs on vehicle manufacturers, as the replacement parts are already part of routine maintenance.
Simple Explanation
In this rule, the people who make cars are being told to change a special test doll's outfit and backbone so that car crash tests can be more accurate and safe. These changes are meant to make sure all test dolls look and work the same, so everyone's cars are tested fairly.